{"id":5392,"date":"2025-10-30T07:15:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T00:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/?p=5392"},"modified":"2025-10-30T07:15:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T00:15:20","slug":"khanak-jha-stuns-top-seeded-calderano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/khanak-jha-stuns-top-seeded-calderano\/","title":{"rendered":"Khanak Jha stuns top seeded Calderano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>American ace Kanak Jha sent shockwaves across Sud de France Arena as he upset top seed Hugo Calderano of Brazil in five pulsating games 4-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 at the WTT Champions Montpellier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It comes as a monumental victory for World No.24 Jha, over the WTT Champions Macao finalist in a mesmerising display at the Infinity \u221e Arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Thrill from Brazil was hot off the block, completely dominating the first game with blistering topspin play, simply powering past his American rival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second game was opened by an exhibition-like display, with WTT Champions Yokohama semifinalist Jha forcing the top seed back away from the table to eventually win the point. Jha would continue to entertain as he recovered a 7-10 deficit to steal the second game 13-11, now tying up proceedings at one game apiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Calderano dominating the third game and Jha clinching a narrow fourth, play reached its climatic stage, as the two stars returned to the table for the deciding battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Epic topspin rallies and tactical mastery featured in the fifth and final game, as it went down to the very wire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trailing 10-8, Calderano would save one match point, but a forehand loop error from the Brazilian gifted Jha the win and a spot in the Round of 16, as the 25-year-old dropped to the floor in celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hugo Calderano vs Kanak Jha | MS R32 | #WTTMontpellier 2025\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/muleofvqafw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hometown hero Alexis Lebrun will also continue his conquest in Montpellier following his victory over Nigerian player Quadri Aruna, the latter conceding in the third game due to injury 11-5, 11-7, rtd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There was further excitement for home fans as Frenchmen Simon Gauzy and Lilian Bardet clashed in the Men\u2019s Singles Round of 32, with World No.17 Gauzy emerging victorious in four games 4-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Xiang Peng\u2019s hopes of a second Champions success will have to wait, with the No.6 seed tasting a 10-12, 11-3, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8 defeat at the hands of Patrick Franziska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xiang emerged victorious over the German on his way to the title in Korea. However, Franziska avenged that loss when the two met at last month in Macao, building the rivalry as the they faced off for the third time this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carrying great support from the stands as one of event\u2019s standout European competitors, Franziska fought back from 6-10 down in a frantic opening game and was unlucky to drop it, forcing Xiang to dig deep as the Chinese star just about held on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While his 22-year-old rival would press on to build a 1-2 lead overall, there wasn\u2019t one moment where Franziska looked out of the contest. A fast start to the fourth game would get the German back on track, clenching his fists in celebration as he began to sense the upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were some nervy moments towards the end as Xiang salvaged multiple Match Points to ask the question, but Franziska found the answer he was looking for, soaking up the applause from the Montpellier crowd before offering his opponent his hand in respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Patrick Franziska vs Xiang Peng | MS R32 | #WTTMontpellier 2025\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Kp6sa-2pozw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Patrick Franziska wasn\u2019t the only German star to pick up a win in the afternoon session, with Dang Qiu getting the better of No.5 seed Benedikt Duda in an all-German clash, winning 11-5, 11-4, 11-8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, in the women&#8217;s singles, Zeng Jian left fans stunned across the world as she knocked out defending champion Satsuki Odo in five thrilling games 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 11-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Competing for the first time at a WTT Champions event, Zeng overcame the odds to take down the Japanese sensation in dramatic fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A match buzzing with intensity and brisk exchanges, the two players gave it their very best on Infinity \u221e Arena, thrilling fans from the get-go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An impactful backhand topspin saw Odo claim the first game 8-11, but a series of errors would see the Japanese ace drop off in the second, Zeng pulling away to 10-6. Match favourite Odo would recover all but one of the four game points she needed, leaving play locked at one game each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was nip and tuck once again in the third game, with Zeng managing to secure two consecutive points in deuce to lead for the first time in this heated contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things continued to heat up as Odo saw a 5-10 lead cut to 10-10 in the fourth game. Holding her nerve, however, Odo delivered two striking topspin shots to push Zeng to a final game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Satuski Odo vs Zeng Jian | WS R32 | #WTTMontpellier 2025\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ye8UpmuJUKA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With her eyes set on victory, Zeng threw everything at her Japanese opponent, Odo now struggling to keep up with her rival\u2019s pace and precision. With a 11-2 scoreline, Zeng claimed an outstanding victory, upsetting the defending champion to book her spot in the next round, where she faces Odo\u2019s compatriot Honoka Hashimoto in a must-watch brawl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>French star Prithika Pavade has edged into the Round of 16 after surviving a five-game thriller against compatriot Charlotte Lutz 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Home fans were in for a treat as Pavade and Lutz stepped out, the two French players meeting for the first time at a WTT Series event. It was World No.68 Lutz who would kick things off, claiming a tight first game to get the crowd going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Pavade hit back with interest, clinching a dramatic second game, before taking the third 11-8 to now lead the fiery contest by a 2-1 game margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Refusing to give in, underdog Lutz put the pressure back on, throwing the kitchen sink to capture the fourth game 7-11, forcing World No.27 Pavade into a final showdown in Montpellier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the French crowd on the edge of their seats, both players risked it all under the spotlight. But there could only be one winner, and it was Pavade who would triumph, defeating Lutz with an 11-7 tagline and booting her from the title race.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>American ace Kanak Jha sent shockwaves across Sud de France Arena as he upset top seed Hugo Calderano<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[65],"class_list":["post-5392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","tag-table-tennis"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha.jpg",1000,660,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha-300x198.jpg",300,198,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha-768x507.jpg",640,423,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha.jpg",640,422,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha.jpg",1000,660,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha.jpg",1000,660,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"info":["admin"]},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/category\/international\/\" rel=\"category tag\">International<\/a>","tag_info":"International","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Khanak-Jha.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5392"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5392\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5402,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5392\/revisions\/5402"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.infinitysport.asia\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}