Late December features one of the major US table tennis tournaments of the year, the US Nationals. This five star tournament is an exciting event for eligible table tennis enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. For active collegiate players, the US Nationals is an especially exciting experience. The tournament itself offers great competition and the chance to see many top US players in action to decide the US National champion. Also, the setting of Las Vegas allows for a thrilling time away from the table. If a table with a net is not treating you well, maybe a felt covered table will be more accommodating.
Personally, this was my first trip to the US Nationals. I have played in the last few US Opens but was excited to see what the Nationals had to offer me as a competitor and a fan in comparison to the Open. The US Nationals were held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which allows the USATT a large amount of space to operate. I was pleased to see that there were a large number of high quality tables. It was fairly easy to find an open table to practice. Unfortunately for myself, I did not arrive to the tournament with my game in top form and did not have great results. Other players of higher ability did arrive with well polished games and ready for the competition. Highlighted are some of these players and a range of some of the most exciting matches of the tournament.
In anticipation of the US Nationals as fan, one first thinks about who will win each of the Open events for the US National Champions. Quickly into the tournament, though, it is apparent that there are very exciting matches throughout the tournament. The over 40 final featured two talented players in De Tran and Cheng Yinghua. This was a match of players with excellent backhands and a great deal of experience. Cheng is rumored to lack the quickness that he once had and Tran clearly tried to test this early. Much to Tran’s surprise, Cheng chased down wide loops from Tran and countered them with tremendous speed. In most of the match Tran opened with heavy topspin from his backhand but Cheng controlled the points and finished them with great drives and counters. Tran made it a match by winning the 3rd game but Cheng closed the door to finish 3-1.
One of the most exciting early matches on the Women’s side was between Lily Yip and Michelle Do. In the first set, Lily Yip took control by serving and setting up her offense well. With this execution, Yip jumped out to an early lead. Do was then able to attack a few serves with beautiful forehand flips and strongly spun backhand loops. Due to Yips big lead, she is able to narrowly hold off Do’s run and wins 11-9. From the first set, Do knew she could use her backhand effectively and aimed to put it to work. She attempted to use her backhand loop but was receiving faster shots to her backhand than previously and could not consistently land the counters. Yip exploited Do’s mistakes and also kept her off balance with some fast deep serves. Lily takes the second set comfortably at 11-4. In the third, Yip came out countering Michelle’s loops and made her move laterally. Yip looked to finish points with authority by use of her characteristic penhold smashes but they did not find the table enough to take a lead late in the set. Down 6-8, Lily backhand blocked aggressively but long. Do took the set 11-9 by use of an intelligent mixture of tempo and great shot making. In the fourth, Yip pressures Do’s backhand early and worked to set up her forehand. Yip’s forehand kills were directed to the forehand but Do countered enough of them to take a 10-8 lead and a chance to level the match. Lip did not fade, though and hit strong forehand loops wide to Michelle’s backhand to make it 10-10. Again Yip hits a strong forehand to Do’s backhand for a winner. At 11-10, she fired in the same approach but to the forehand of Do to take the game. Lily then went on to take the fifth set and the match.
The Men’s semifinals showed a couple of very interesting match-ups and players. The first match featured the defending champion Ilija Lupulesku against the very talented junior Adam Hugh. Lupulesku (Lupi) reached this match by beating Khoa Nyguen in the quarterfinals. Adam Hugh arrived by beating Cheng Yinghua in a very exciting and emotional match. The Hugh/Lupi match started with Lupi well in control. He was able to open early and catch Hugh receiving powerful shots while too close the table. Lupi took an easy 3-0 lead. Adam woke up though and down 1-3 served a short topspin ball which he followed with a strong loop kill. At 5-3 both players came out looping and had a tremendous exchange. Adam seemed like he would make it a tight game but Lupi took complete control and went up 10-5 and won 11-6. In the second set, Lupi was down early 1-3 but smashed a short shot to make it 2-3. He then started showing some short, dead serves followed with snap backhand loops off short balls. Adam came back to make it 4-4 but Lupi again showed some short, dead serves coupled with power looping to take a two point advantage. He held this margin to 9-7 and drove it home at 11-7 with a show of force. In the third, Adam opened well early but lost points in the rally. At 8-3, Lupi released a blistering forehand loop that reminded Adam which player had the power advantage. Lupi finishes the set 11-6. In the fourth set, Lupi came out with a mixture of control and well timed power to take a quick 7-1 lead. He went on the win the set 11-5 and the match 4-0. Adam had a strong tournament but could not outplay the versatile and very talented Lupulesku.
The next semifinal match pitted the sensational Mark Hazinski against the powerful and experienced David Zhaung. Mark brought a beautiful two winged shakehand looping game against the quick penholder David Zhaung. This match featured great points and strategy from the very beginning. The first point ended quickly with a forehand smash from Zhaung. Mark took the next point with a high rpm backhand loop that David blocked long. The set goes to 3-3. Mark then began to lose ground. He looped off from the backhand and fast served into the net to go down 3-6. In his next services opportunity, he mixed depth well and tied it at 6-6. Mark did a great job of keeping David off balance and consequently unable to set up his block and smash game. At 9-6, Hazinski surprised Zhaung with a long serve and was rewarded with a return into the net. At 10-7 Hazinski executed a professional grade backhand loop kill wide that is untouched.
After winning the first set, Mark went on to take the next 3 sets to win 4-0. Mark’s win over David was a great surprise to many of the spectators. It was clear that Zhuang attempted to move Hazinski out wide to his forehand anticipating that Mark would not be quick enough to counter with great power. In contrast, Hazinski was able to reach the wide shots and greeted them with devastating forehand loops. Mark in turn was successful in limiting Zhuang’s lethal attack by some well chosen quick shots to David’s middle and well disguised serves.
The Women’s final involved Tawny Bahn against Jasna Reed, a member of the Texas Wesleyan University Table Tennis Team that competes in NCTTA competitions. Earlier in the tournament, Bahn had been overpowering opponents with her very strong and consistent forehand loop. Jasna, however came prepared for Tawny’s main weapon. Several times Bahn would rip a great loop only to see it countered by Reed. Jasna was able to extend the rallies with her tremendous countering skills and end them decisively either with pick hitting, or crushing loops of her own. With Reed’s anticipation, reaction and powerful offense, she jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Bahn was able to hit the shots she wanted early in points but could not convert these opportunities into enough points to win the first two sets. This clearly affected her focus and although she does take a set, she is unable to win the match. Jasna wins 4-1 in a wonderful match.
In the Men’s final, Lupulesku set out to defend his title against Mark Hazinski. Lupi and Mark are well familiar with each other since they were once teammates with Killerspin. Since that time, Mark has moved on to develop as a player in a different environment. Both players began focused and ready to compete. It was clear that Hazinski had to start off serving and returning well to stay in the match. Lupi is a very talented and well balanced player. He is able to set up his offense quickly and is known to utilize extreme angles. In the match, both players were able to overpower each other when able to set up their loops and provide themselves with enough time to execute. Against most players, Lupi can wait out the offense of opponents until he can strike. His great defense is the result of his anticipation, touch and especially his footwork. Mark could not match the footwork and speed of Lupi, so he had to have superior power and touch. Additionally, if Hazinki was going to win this match it was critical that he win the serve/return game.
Early in the contest, Lupi was able to implement his strategy and execute his offense more effectively than Hazinski. In the first set, Lupi jumped out to a 5-0 lead due to quick, sharp offensive strokes. Hazinksi is able to recover and won the next five points. Lupi turned up the pressure again and wins 11-6. Mark made adjustments and came out strong in the second set. Early in the second, he came out with a sharper serve/return game and was able to flex his muscles early in the points. Lupi does weather the storm and kept it at 3-3 early. Lupi took the next 3 points and looked as if he might pull away as in the first set. Despite a couple of long service mistakes, Mark did fight back to 5-7 but drops the set 6-11.
Both players came out focused and aggressive for the third set. Mark jumped out to a 3-1 lead only to find himself down 3-5 after missing a great forehand opportunity. Mark showed that he had gained experience and recovered well to unleash a punishing backhand flat hit to show Lupi that the match was well from being over. The players traded great shots and points to reach 7-7 when Lupi’s coach was given a yellow card for giving advice during play. Lupi then responded to go up 9-7 and seemed poised to take a 3-0 lead. Mark stayed focused and tied the set at 9-9. Hazinski ripped a forehand loop that found the net but went in to give him a set point at 10-9. For the next point, Hazinski had Lupi on the ropes only to see Lupi make a great reaching forehand counter that handcuffed Mark and the players traveled to the land of deuce. In deuce, Mark gets a fortunate forehand loop to edge. He took it and the next point to win a very big set. In the fourth, Mark began with mixing service depth well. At 3-3, Hazinski hit a big backhand smash that was blocked back by Lupi. He moved ahead to 6-4 and then 8-6 but every time Lupi appeared that he was going to pull away, Mark responded with great shot making and smart play to ultimately tie it at 8 a piece. Mark then took control with a strong forehand loop wide to his opponent’s forehand. He then ripped a backhand off a short ball to take a 10-8 lead and the ball to serve. He surprised Lupi with a long serve that was sent long. The match was then tied at 2-2.
With the match tied, both players conferred with their coaches and came out in rhythm and ready to play. Up 4-2, Mark took the ball early with a forehand loop that jammed Lupi. The players then had some several good looping exchanges. Hazinski showed great power but seemed surprised and unprepared when Lupi was able to counter. Lupi came back to make it 6-5 and 7-5 with some fist pumping and yelling. Lupi then injured his hand and had to take an injury time out. His racquet was also damaged and he was forced to finish the match with Jasna Reed’s racquet. After a lengthy timeout, Lupi picked up where he left off and finished the set 11-8 to make it 3-2. In the sixth set, Mark seemed to be out of focus and Lupi was able to win the set and the match to repeat as US National Champion. Lupi was able to take down Mark due to his footwork and quickness that enabled him to handle the power of Hazinski. When Lupi had offensive opportunities, he converted most of them into points.
Overall, the US Nationals was a very exciting tournament as a player and a fan. Las Vegas is a fun town for a national tournament and provides plenty of fun away from the game for collegiate players. The USATT made the vacation side of Las Vegas affordable due to greatly discounted hotel rates and free shuttle service to the venue. It was fun to be a part of the experience and to meet some of the west coast members of the NCTTA.