WTT Contender Rio de Janeiro 2023: Mattias Falck won the Men's Singles title, defeating Sora Matsushima

Posted : 14 August 2023

In a gripping showdown at the WTT Contender Rio de Janeiro 2023, Mattias Falck emerged victorious in the Men's Singles, defeating Sora Matsushima in a thrilling final with a scoreline of 4-2 (10-12, 14-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7). This triumph marks Falck's maiden WTT Series title, an achievement he celebrates with immense happiness.

Reflecting on his remarkable achievement, Falck expressed his joy, stating, "I am really happy of course, it was a great time for me, I played really well from the beginning, this is my first title on the WTT tour, so I am really happy."

The final clash held significant importance for both players, as it marked their debut appearances in WTT Series finals. This landmark occasion carried substantial weight for Falck, who was pursuing his inaugural international Men's Singles event victory, having faced defeat in three previous finals throughout his career.

Simultaneously, for the young talent Sora Matsushima, aged 16, the final was the culmination of a fairy tale journey in the WTT Series table tennis. Just the previous week at WTT Contender Lima, Matsushima had stepped onto the main draw stage for the first time, and within a short span, he found himself competing in his maiden final.

Entering the match, Falck was well aware of the challenge posed by the teenager. Matsushima's remarkable journey to the final included notable victories over players like Marcos Freitas, Lee Sang Su, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, and Cho Seungmin. To prepare for this test, Falck diligently studied his opponent through online videos, recognizing Matsushima's strengths and tendencies. "I started to watch a lot of YouTube videos of him, that’s good with the internet these days, you can always find his matches online. He is a really young and a really good player," Falck explained. This astute analysis enabled him to formulate a strategy, including a focus on countering Matsushima's strong backhand and preparedness for his long serves.

Despite the match being leveled at 2-2 in terms of games, Falck remained resolute in executing his plan, effectively neutralizing Matsushima's strengths and preventing him from seizing early advantages. Falck's tactical approach saw success as he capitalized on Matsushima's serve, which faltered under his short-pimple pro ground, leading to a mere 50% win rate for the Japanese player.

Controlling the rhythm of the match, Falck minimized Matsushima's ability to create angles, allowing him to secure the final two games and clinch victory. The significance of the moment was elevated by the enthusiastic fans in Rio, enhancing Falck's experience of his first-time win. "It was amazing, it was really good, the fans are here from the beginning of the tournament, so it is a lot more fun to play when they are cheering you on. I will have really nice memories from here," Falck remarked with gratitude.

In the Women's Singles category, Hina Hayata's prowess shone as she claimed the title by defeating Linda Bergstrom with a score of 4-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8, 11-4). World No.9 Hayata demonstrated her dominance, entering the match as the favorite due to her 2-0 head-to-head record against Bergstrom. Hayata's flawless run in Rio, during which she did not drop a single game, further bolstered her position. Bergstrom, however, displayed growing momentum and a strong fighting spirit, indicating her readiness for a formidable challenge.

The opening game of the match saw Bergstrom achieve what no other player had managed throughout the tournament, as she secured a game against Hayata. Nonetheless, Hayata swiftly recalibrated, raising her level of play. Adjusting to the spin on the ball with keen precision, Hayata harnessed her power effectively, turning the tide in her favor. The match swiftly became one-sided from the second game onward, with Hayata clinching four consecutive games to emerge victorious and secure the inaugural Women's Singles title in Rio.

Reflecting on the challenging encounter, Hayata expressed her satisfaction, "It was a difficult match for me, because she is one of the strongest choppers in the world, but I believed in myself and was able to fight until the end, so it was good." Her triumphant journey exemplifies both her skill and determination on the court.

WTT Contender Rio de Janeiro 2023: Mattias Falck won the Men's Singles title, defeating Sora Matsushima

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