Truls Moregard (Photo WTT)
Just like they did in the final of Europe Smash – Sweden last year, Truls Moregard and Lin Shidong played out another thrilling seven-game battle in the quarterfinals of WTT Champions Montpellier, with the World No.4 coming out on top again 1-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8.
Shidong was like a bat out of hell in the opening game of this one, stunning everyone watching with an 11-1 win. But that first demolition job was water off a duck’s back to Moregard, who was back at the table quickly to put in a commanding performance of his own to level the match.
Into game three, the two-time WTT Grand Smash champion Shidong did another number on Moregard, storming to a 9-1 lead and converting his first of seven Game Points.
Even though the Europe Smash – Sweden champion was leading for the opening stages of Game Four, he cut an extremely frustrated figure on court, stomping on the ground and turning and shouting at his coach when Lin scored.
But those who watch Moregard know the more fired up he gets, the harder he is to beat, and he was scrambling to the floor to scoop up shots and blasting the ball directly at his opponent with full power as he started to pull ahead at 8-5 in the fourth.
While all eyes were on the animated Moregard, who made extra effort to hype up the crowd when he levelled the match, Shidong was brimming with confidence after his performance so far. The former World No.1 knew exactly what to do in game five, and drew the Swede into the backhand game as he again took the lead.
The momentum of this match had constantly swung back and forth, and it was no different in the sixth, as a still fired-up Moregard went up 8-5 and converted his first of three Game Points to confirm a decider.
Just as he had done in the three games he had won, Shidong stormed past Moregard, who was shouting and stomping more than ever, in the opening points of the decider, to lead 4-1. But the WTT Champions Macao 2026 winner Moregard is a mentality monster, and he didn’t just level the score, but he took the lead at 5-4.
A short break as the players swapped sides of the table was just what Shidong needed to halt Moregard’s momentum, and again the backhand game was his biggest weapon as the tables turned again at 5-7 to the Chinese star.
This match was high-stakes drama that felt just like the final in Sweden last year, but this time, Moregard did not need to come from behind at the last minute; instead, he hit three in a row and collapsed to the floor in relief as he booked his spot in the semifinals.
Hugo Calderano has thrown down the gauntlet in the men’s singles draw, cruising past Vladimir Sidorenko to book his spot in Sunday’s semifinals, winning 5-11, 11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9.
Before heading to Montpellier, these two had been in entirely different form on the WTT Series, with Sidorenko not winning a match since his historic run to the United States Smash final. Calderano, on the other hand, won WTT Star Contender São José dos Campos, reached the final at WTT Champions Macao and the semifinal at China Smash.
But it was Sidorenko, whose return to form saw him beat World No.1 Sora Matsushima in the Round of 16, who flew out of the traps in the first Men’s Singles quarterfinal of the day, stunning Calderano with a 2-8 lead before becoming the first player to take a game of the ‘Thrill from Brazil’ here in Montpellier.
Calderano needed to up the ante, and he made a perfect start to the second, winning the first six points, while fans inside Infinity ∞ Arena showed their appreciation with chants of “Hugo” ringing through the stands.
Game two was a Calderano masterclass, and his trademark round-the-back shot made an appearance, and he was back level after winning a rally from way behind the table.
Calderano started to turn the screw in the third, moving the ball from corner to corner, making life very difficult for Sidorenko, who, at 7-1 down, was for the second game in a row trailing by six.
Sidorenko kicked it up a couple of gears in the fourth and was playing with more power and ferocity, but he still couldn’t shake off Calderano, and when trailing 6-5, he called a Time Out. Sidorenko’s coach used the full minute to tell his charge to target the backhand and urged him not to be scared and to take risks. His advice worked perfectly, and soon enough, the United States Smash finalist was level.
But there’s only so long you can play at that speed without burning out, and Calderano was able to get back to dominating the Russian, storming through the fifth.
Calderano was clearly enjoying himself as he raced to a 7-2 lead in game Six and even turned on the samba style with a double-handed backhand to set up six Match Points. In a gripping end, Sidorenko saved five, but his resurgence was too late, and Calderano confirmed his fifth WTT Champions semifinal.
The women’s singles saw Miwa Harimoto’s quest to go four in a row at WTT Champions level end at the hands of Kuai Man 9-11, 11-8, 11-2, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6. An all-China semifinal was confirmed when Chen Yi dismantled Hitomi Sato 12-10, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4.
Before those two stepped into Sud de France ARENA, Wang Yidi recovered from going 2-1 down to beat Chen Xingtong over seven games as she took one step closer to defending her title winning 11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 12-14, 12-10.
Sun Yingsha is also staying until the final day, after she extended her unbeaten run against Hina Hayata to 22 matches winning 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-13, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9.
