With the doubles entries released, WTT Series title holders get ready to chase inaugural Saudi Smash 2024 titles
The clocking is ticking down and there is now less than four weeks to go until Saudi Smash opens its gates to the world. With the next chapter in WTT Series 2024 just around the corner, the doubles pairings for this year’s second WTT Grand Smash have been released, giving a look at what to expect when action gets underway in Jeddah.
Fans will be in for a treat as Ma Long and Wang Chuqin make a return to the international scene as a Men’s Doubles pair. Teaming up for just the third time in the WTT Series, their most recent showing at WTT Star Contender Doha 2024 ended in a run to the final. While the duo are yet to top the podium together, Ma Long recently won his career-first WTT title, taking down the Men’s Doubles at Singapore Smash 2024. The table tennis GOAT will be looking to repeat that feat with a Wang when stepping out in Jeddah.
A big push for the podium will come from the combination of Lim Jonghoon and Lee Sang Su. The pair have one WTT Series title to their name this year, topping the podium at WTT Contender Doha. Saudi Arabia will mark the first time the duo have linked up at WTT Grand Smash event.
The draw will be packed full of stars with stalwarts and debutants alike in the mix. The sibling sensations Alexis and Felix Lebrun once again will be battling for a title, while the international pairing of Sora Matsushima and Oh Junsung will see the Japanese and Korea Republic teenage rivals teaming up for the very first time.
READ ALSO: Juventus to sign Boniface and Zirkzee.
In the Women’s Doubles, the World No.1 pairing of Jeon Jihee and Shin Yubin will continue their season under the green lights in Saudi Arabia. The five-time WTT Series champions have been dominating the field, but have fallen short of a WTT Grand Smash title so far. After a quarterfinal exit at Singapore Smash last month, the pair will want to quickly turn things around when they land on the shores of the Red Sea in May.
Back-to-back titles will be on the mind of World No.2 pairing Chen Meng and Wang Manyu. Having picked up a red trophy by taking out the field in Lion City last month, the Singapore Smash champions won’t settle for anything less than adding a new colour to their silverware collection.
The Women’s Doubles field however will be tough to navigate. The Korea Republic and Japan combination of Joo Cheonhui and Miyuu Kihara will be a hard pairing to overcome after posting a semifinal WTT Grand Smash finish on their debut as a duo. The international team-ups don’t stop there, with the successful combination of Sofia Polcanova of Austria and Romania’s Bernadette Szocs taking the field, as well as Australia’s Yangzi Liu and Ng Wing Lam of Hong Kong, China are partnering up for the first time.
In the Mixed Doubles the spotlight will be on Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha. Undefeated on the WTT Grand Smash stage, the World No.1 duo are back for more and will be favourites to take down the inaugural Saudi Smash title. Keen on upsetting the status quo will be Lim Jonghoon and Shin Yubin as they chase their first title in the tier, while the underdogs are sure to be out in force with the likes of Omar Assar and Dina Meshref out for a breakthrough win in the MENA region.
Set to be staged from 4 to 11 May 2024, Saudi Smash features 64-player singles and 24-pair doubles main draws with the biggest stars of the sport taking the stage. With a record setting prize pool of USD 2,000,000, both the Men’s and Women’s Singles champions will earn USD 65,000 and 2,000 ITTF Table Tennis World Rankings Points.
