Bruna Takahashi jumped into the arms of her partner Hugo Calderano as the pair became the first non-Asian players to win a doubles title at a Grand Smash event. The pair defeated Lim Jonghoon-Shin Yubin 11-7, 11-6, 11-13) n the mixed doubles final at Singapore Smash table tennis championships<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heading into the final, Calderano-Takahashi had a shocking record against the No.1 seeds, having lost two matches without taking a single game, one of those coming in the final of WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2025. On top of that, just hours before the final, Calderano had suffered a shock 3-1 loss to Chen Yuanyu in the men\u2019s singles Round of 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this match, the Brazilians were in control from the get-go and started firing off winners in twos and threes to set up five Game Points. Jonghoon-Yubin attempted to regain their footing in the first game, but the gap was too large, and Calderano-Takahashi ultimately won their first game against the Korean duo.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0\u201cWe’ve been playing better and better every, every tournament. We actually haven’t practised mixed doubles since the last tournament, the Finals in Hong Kong, for two months. But I think we’re on the right path. We played great here, especially in the final. I mean, they are a great double. They\u2019re number one in the world for a reason. They have many titles,\u201d said Calderano.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Out to prove that was not a one-off, Calderano-Takahashi went 4-1 up to loud cheers from those inside The Kallang. Jonghoon-Yubin, trying with all their might to stop their opponents from coming within touching distance of their first WTT title since July, closed the gap to one point at 7-6, but another flurry of points gave the second game to the WTT Contender Buenos Aires 2025 champions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Brazilians were so strong that it wasn\u2019t until the third game that Jonghoon-Yubin finally took the lead, and when they did, they looked dangerous. A 0-4 advantage quickly grew to 4-8, but when Takahashi-Calderano levelled the score, their opponents called a time-out. Unfortunately for the Korean duo, it did not have the desired effect, and they found themselves behind again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They recovered to force their first game point of the match, but Jonghoon missed the table, and chaos ensued. After the serve on their second game point, all four players stepped back and started firing at each other way behind the table. Jonghoon returned Calderano\u2019s blistering forearm shot, but Takahashi was perfectly positioned and blasted one right at Yubin, and it pinged off her racket and high into the sky.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On championship point, the four players were again firing from range. A smart backhand from Calderano put Jonghoon on the backfoot, and Takahashi was able to send it to the other side to a sprawling Yubin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A cross-table forearm was delivered to a diving Jonghoon whose shot missed the table, cueing scenes of jubilation. Takahashi sank to her knees, and Calderano almost fell backwards in excitement before his partner was back up and jumping into his arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n