The following observations are of course my personal view and do not claim to be the “truth”!
Here comes Aikaterini TOLIOU (GRE)): Not much to say from just one video!
Strengths:
good footwork
good fighting spirit (didn’t give up after being down 0:3)
nice use of long pips to attack on pushes with backhand
Weaknesses:
defending generally could be more consistent on both sides
problems when confronted with balls played into her body
hugh problems when confronted with slow topspins into her forehand (often puts them back off the table or far too high)
too many backhand security serves
goes far off the table too early and often without need
footwork and body placement: She often advances her right leg as if she knows that the ball could only come to her backhand thus blocking her forehand completely
Suggestions:
practise versatile serves especially also with forehand
forehand defence should get more constistent, lower and with more chop
should practise more attacking with forehand in all kind of situations: against pushes, from far behind the table etc.
should practise defending balls played into her body with backhand and quick lateral footwork.
maybe she should learn to use defending with long pips on forehand if getting ball low and consistently with pips-in doesn’t work out
The following observations are of course my personal view and do not claim to be the “truth”!
Here comes Konstantinos Angelakis (Greece):
Strengths:
good footwork
good mixture of attacking and defending on forehand
nice twiddling of the bat when it makes sense
good variety of serves
good forehand topspin on pushes
Weaknesses:
forehand defense goes up too high too often due to rather “shoveling” technique instead of chopping technique
placement of backhand defense could more precise according to position of opponent. Should place ball more often to extreme angles to make player have to move left and right all the time to further exhaust him
Backhand defense seems not choppy enough to me. I would guess there is a material issue here.
forehand countertopspin too inconsistent due to taking the ball too early/too high.
Suggestions:
should practise placement of defense ball into extrem angles.
Should consider changing to more dangerous pimples
Should consider counterspinning with forehand from a lower position and with more sidespin. This is more dangerous and gives you more time both when taking on this ball and the next one
should absolutely practice chopping on forehand rather than shoveling. Could also try to chop and float the ball back alternatively (a very effective weapon even against better players)
tabletennisdefenders 