Hina Hayata and teenager Sora Matsushima picked up stunning women’s and men’s titles for the first time at the WTT Champions Frankfurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
World No.13 Hayata claimed a Champions women\u2019s singles crown for the very first time in her career, defeating top seed Miwa Harimoto in seven games 11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9 in the final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two weeks on from falling to Harimoto in the Final at WTT Star Contender London 2025, Hayata finally got her revenge, bagging her eighth WTT Series winner\u2019s trophy on Sunday, and smashing her previous best WTT Champions result from Frankfurt 2023, where she reached the semifinals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hayata kicked things off with a perfect start, racing ahead to a 10-1 lead, before taking the opener 11-4, as she caught the top seed cold in a brisk opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harimoto would improve her score two-fold in the second game, but Hayata continued to pile on the pressure, initialising loop and counter-topspin attacks at each and every possible opportunity, resulting in a 2-0 game lead for the No.3 seed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Momentum would shift from the third game, however, with Harimoto firing back with vicious offensive play, claiming a five-point win-streak towards the latter stages, eventually taking the game 4-11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scoreboard continued to favour the top seed into the fourth game, Harimoto shooting out of the blocks with a 7-0 advantage. It became a game of streaks, as Hayata hit back to 5-7, only for Harimoto to power through to take the game 6-11, levelling proceedings at two games apiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was at this stage where fans began to wonder whether there would be a repeat of the women\u2019s singles Final from two weeks ago in London, where Harimoto clawed her way back from a 0-2 game deficit to strike a 4-3 victory against Hayata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leading 3-6 in the fifth game, fate seemed to be pointing Harimoto towards that outcome. But a surprise turn of events would occur, as a jaw-dropping recovery saw Hayata steal eight points in a row to win the game 11-6, the latter now within striking distance of the title in Frankfurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It was a really tough match from the very start! Last time I played her at WTT Star Contender London 2025, it was also a very tight match, and playing her in Frankfurt, I felt very tired. So, I just focused on what I could do well, and prioritised\u00a0enjoying and trying my very best in the match,” said Hayata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indeed, Hayata was the stronger player for much of the sixth game, often leading Harimoto by a multi-point margin. At 9-8, however, things changed. Hayata called time out, but it was Harimoto who would profit, dominating the following three points with brisk receive and topspin play to clinch the game 9-11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crowd on the edges of their seats, play got underway in the final game, Harimoto bringing the heat with a 3-5 point lead at the change of ends. At 3-6, Harimoto would make an uncustomary smash error off a high ball, which gave Hayata the chance to pounce, the latter winning four consecutive points, before a thrilling topspin exchange won by Harimoto tied things up at 7-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The match reached its boiling point. A snatched forehand from Harimoto, and quick play from Hayata would see the latter go on to hold two Championship Points at 10-8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harimoto would save the first, but was denied the second, as Hayata unleashed a whole new level of table tennis to triumph in a breathtaking topspin rally, sealing her maiden title in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I guess experience helped me win, but last time I lost against her, so I just think that I had a little more luck this time. Her performance was wonderful, I didn’t think much about the difference in age, and I have learned a lot from her and was better this time than in London. I just didn\u2019t give up, and that\u2019s what I did well today,” added Hayata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n