Just caught up via Youtube, SYQ should have won it in 2 i feel,
he came out and tried to play a measured game and played right into KM's comfort zone,
once his game plan changed in the 2nd game, different result,
KM can play that defensive, consistent and neat net game all day long,
and he's one player i feel really looks forward to a 3 setter as he normally wears his opponents out by then,
but varying the pace and punching him with aggression when the opportunity comes,
then it's a different game, apart from SYQ, i feel Ginting does that very well.
Anyway, my days are Forever Amber from todays result, well done team China.
Perhaps SYQ could have won it in 2 games, or KM may have came back more determined in G2 if he had lost the first. We will never know. But one thing for sure is that SYQ employed the right strategy imo, one that echoes the way LD plays against some players - which is to use G1 to tire out the opponent without expending too much energy - even if it meant losing G1. Then increase speed in G2 and G3 when you have the upper hand.
It was clear in G2 and G3 that KM could not keep up. SYQ clearly upped the pace and intensity further tiring KM. Usually a fully fit KM would be able to increase pace to match but it may have been a combination of fatigue from previous matches and energy used to win G1 that prevented him from doing so.
It's interesting how KM seems to struggle so much against SYQ compared to any other player and looking at his recent losses to SYQ there are a few things I've picked up on. It's pretty clear that KM is finding it difficult to read SYQ's attack and this is probably hurting him the most. But how is SYQ doing this to him? I think it is a combination of SYQ's initial racquet preparation, holding the position (and thereby his opponent) that delays KM's early anticipation but SYQ also seems to have a very short and fast action on his over head which he manages to generate quite a lot of power from. Coupling this with the steep angles and mixing up of overhead shots, KM simply has no idea where it is going. I particularly like the way SYQ uses his height to play incredibly steep half smashes.
KM is a player that really doesn't like covering the whole court, it compromises him significantly and tires him out as he doesn't have the best reach. So he anticipates and commits to the two most likely corners. But with SYQ hitting consistently close to the lines, perfect lifts, steep angles and consistent net play, KM's court coverage has gotten a lot larger. This makes him tire more and unable to anticipate as much.
A lot of players have worked out that KM is reluctant to attack when the shuttle's trajectory is just high enough and deep. As KM does not jump to his FH/BH corners, and typically looks to play a passive shot to neutralize the threat, his opponents can make him scramble around until he makes a small error. But he has a fantastic ability to play high quality neutralising shots from seemingly compromised situations.
I think KM needs to look to play more aggressive and really put in the effort to get behind the shuttle quicker and attack it rather than continually playing back to the net with the shuttle behind him. He was also not using his outstanding net play enough nor was he playing enough deceptive shots. His lifts were also too low/short on occasions.
However of the two players I personally don't think we have seen the best SYQ yet. Sure, KM can also improve too but I see greater scope for SYQ to improve. I think if he can develop a little more speed and deception, he would be even more devastating.