The action at Singapore Smash 2025 continues to escalate, with Day 4 serving up a feast of unforgettable moments and high-stakes battles. As we hit the halfway mark across Day 5, the competition is reaching boiling point with top seeds under pressure, underdogs rising to the occasion, and fans on the edge of their seats.
Recap of Day 4: Drama and Breakthroughs
The Singapore Smash 2025 Para Showcase came to a dramatic conclusion, showcasing the immense skill, resilience, and determination of Para Table Tennis athletes on the world stage. Viktor Didukh and Kanlaya Chaiwut-Kriabklang delivered masterclass performances to be crowned champions. Didukh, a seasoned competitor known for his aggressive style and tactical precision, dominated Billy Shilton (11-5, 11-5, 11-3), using sharp attacking strokes and pinpoint placement to control the match from start to finish. Chaiwut-Kriabklang, on the other hand, faced a spirited challenge from 15-year-old Florencia Perez, whose fearless approach kept the contest lively. However, the Thai star’s superior movement and ability to dictate play proved too much, as she powered through to a commanding 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 victory.
Day 4 was electrifying. World No.56 Kanak Jha pulled off the biggest win of his career, stunning No.7 seed Truls Moregard 3-2 (6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-2) in a match that had the crowd roaring. It was a war of attrition, with Jha showing fearless shot-making and relentless aggression to break down Moregard’s defences. With the tension dialed up to max in the final game, Jha unleashed his full arsenal to dominate 11-2 and punch his ticket to his first-ever WTT Grand Smash Round of 16.
Xue Fei’s win over No.3 seed Tomokazu Harimoto was another jaw-dropper. The Chinese powerhouse played with precision and confidence, dismantling Harimoto in straight games (11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6). Harimoto, normally a master of tight situations, simply had no answers as Xue dictated the tempo from start to finish, sending shockwaves through the draw.
Revenge was sweet for He Zhuojia, who took down Miwa Harimoto in ruthless fashion, sealing a commanding 3-0 victory (11-4, 11-4, 11-9). After falling to Harimoto last season, He flipped the script, suffocating her opponent with unrelenting pace and laser-sharp accuracy.
What to Watch on Day 5: High-Stakes Battles on the Horizon
As we hit halfway through Day, we’ve already seen matchups that have left us reeling. Kuai Man stunned the crowd with a dominant 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 15-3) victory over defending champion Wang Manyu, sending shockwaves through the Infinity ∞ Arena and booking her place in the Women’s Singles quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Patrick Franziska powered past Milosz Redzimski in emphatic fashion, sweeping him aside 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-2) to punch his ticket to the Men’s Singles quarterfinals. Hina Hayata also had to battle, but ultimately outclassed Lily Zhang 3-1 (11-5, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4) to secure her spot in the last eight of the Women’s Singles draw.
Kanak Jha’s dream run came to an end as he ran into an in-form Dang Qiu, who proved too strong in the Round of 16, winning 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-5). After his remarkable triumph over Truls Moregard, Jha gave it everything he had but couldn’t find a way past the German star, who expertly controlled the tempo to book his place in the Men’s Singles quarterfinals.
Jang Woojin ended Kao Cheng-Jui’s impressive run. Kao, who had shocked No.5 seed Felix Lebrun in the Round of 32, fought hard but was unable to crack Jang’s resilience. The Korean star edged a nail-biting second game and held his nerve in a tight third to take the match 3-1 (11-8, 14-12, 9-11,11-6).
Later today, Mima Ito faces a monumental challenge against Qian Tianyi. Their last WTT battle in Singapore was a five-game epic, with Qian saving two match points to steal the victory. This time, Ito is out for revenge. Will she break the streak, or does Qian have her number once again?
Bernadette Szocs is riding a wave of momentum, but now she faces No.4 seed Chen Xingtong—a proven WTT Series champion. Szocs finally cracked the code earlier this week to claim her first-ever WTT Grand Smash main draw win. Can she keep the fairytale going, or will Chen remind her why she’s one of the most consistent players in the game?
The defending champion Wang Chuqin is gearing up for a blockbuster rematch with Anton Kallberg. The Swede stunned Wang at WTT Champions Frankfurt 2024, leaving the World No.1 with unfinished business. Wang will be looking to silence the doubters and show why he’s still the man to beat.
Another titanic showdown looms as Hugo Calderano takes on Lin Yun-Ju. Calderano has been electric so far, but Lin holds the upper hand in their rivalry, winning three of their four past meetings. With both players in peak form, this one promises fireworks from the very first serve.
Spotlight on the Stats: Who’s Delivering Under Pressure?
The numbers tell a fascinating story. Milosz Redzimski is the king of clutch moments, saving 6 out of 7 game points faced (86% success rate) – the highest in the Men’s Singles draw. On the women’s side, Adriana Diaz has been ice-cool under fire, saving 7 out of 8 game points (88%).
On serve, Sun Yingsha is untouchable, winning 53 out of 72 points (74% success rate), while Dang Qiu is leading the men’s field with 61.4% of his points won on serve.
Credit: WTT Press