Looks like LZJ is back to his good play form. Against an opponent like AA, he pretty much seemed to be in control throughout the match. That’s a significant progress! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Credit to his main coach Wong Tat Meng as well. This is a coach that was coaching Hong Kong team, well respected there and had seen steady progress in the quite formidable team it is today and prior to that he was coaching the Korean Team and nurtured An Se Young. So, talk about putting all your eggs in one basket, he must have full believe that he could turn LZJ around. Kudos to WTM and the coaching team, job well done so far, and to LZJ on getting back to where he could be.
don't forget WTM long time ago trained former Malaysia WS number one Wong Mew Choo, the only Malaysia's most successful WS player so far...
Congrats LZJ on winning the hard earned Arctic Open Championship. Yesterday's MS finals, we witnessed the arrival of a renewed LZJ, releasing his combinations of patient controlled aggressions. The patience is in the the willingness to play longer rallies and waiting for good opportunities to attack or inject pace, this allows him to stay balance at the same time wearing down opponents that can't match his fitness. In controlled, I see less wild shots cutting down on the hitting outs and using the acrobatic backhands sparingly, if he hit less that 5 or less shots out per game, he will be very hard to beat. With his reach, speed and agility, his court coverage in defence is top notch, let the opponents to find the line to make points. These combined with his raw power is in full demonstration in the MS finals. As if to declare, "I had been patient to employ the strategy, let me savor the moment and exercise my natural raw aggression". I see his continued fine tuning balancing among those strengths. In recent match against Kunlavut Vitidsarn, he employed the long patient rallies to wear down his opponent. In the last two matches against Antonsen, the former match was too "patient" and not enough aggression leaving Antonsen to stay comfortable and choosing his attacks. In the most recent match, I see LZJ made adjustment and up his aggression which kept Antonsen uncomfortable resulting in Antonsen making mistakes at the same time been worn down. There will be bumps in this journey. He almost lost to Chico giving away 11 points, of o counted correctly, to Chico from his hitting outs in the first game. He cannot afford these kind of mistakes against the best. Looking forward to next week. All the best to LZJ's team.
Congrats to LZJ on winning the Artic Open, i hope he can use this as a moral booster for future tournament.
Lee Zii Jia did not sign up for the Road To Gold (RTG). Putting that aside, let's wish him the best in this week's Japan Masters tournament. Some tough matches right off the bat.
Not sure his team's decision not to join RTG is related to the criticism against him by M'sia media and public in the past.
First ever MAS athlete (?) to reject to join a RM20 million national government initiative. History making decision.
could be a factor. Less tendency for media and public accusations of ‘wasting money’ if he doesn’t get results. No doubt the program would give some benefits but we are not sure what limits are placed on the players. You don’t get something for nothing.
That was a dominant performance by LZJ against Lu Guang Zu. Looks to be quite effortless too. Looking forward to his next match.
