As Day 2 reaches its midpoint, the upsets continue to send shockwaves through the Lusail Multipurpose Hall and Qatar University venues.
France’s Lutz Stuns Korean Star
In what must be considered one of the event’s most stunning upset so far, France’s Charlotte Lutz produced a sensational performance to defeat Korea Republic’s highly-rated Lee Eunhye 4-2 (7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8). After dropping the first two games, Lutz showed remarkable mental fortitude to win four consecutive games, including a nail-biting fifth game that swung the momentum decisively in her favour.
Czech Republic’s Matelova Dismantles 27th Seed
In another stunning result, the Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova delivered a clinical performance to eliminate Egypt’s 27th-seeded Dina Meshref in straight games (11-7, 11-3, 11-3, 11-7). Matelova’s tactical brilliance and pinpoint accuracy left no room for the higher-ranked Egyptian to establish any foothold in the match, sending a clear message that rankings count for little at this elite level of competition.
African Excellence Shines Through
Madagascar’s Hanitra Raharimanana has already produced one of Day 2’s standout performances, defeating Singapore’s Loy Ming Ying in a six-game thriller (12-10, 12-11, 2-11, 14-11, 9-11, 11-9). Meanwhile, Egypt’s duo of Abdelaziz and Alhodaby decisively handled Australia’s Bae and Psihogios with a commanding 3-0 victory (11-8, 11-4, 11-5).
European Contenders Advance
European champions continue to make their mark, with Germany’s Ying Han (29) efficiently dispatching Croatia’s Ivana Malobabic in straight games. Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Adrien Rassenfosse both advanced in the Men’s Singles with identical 4-1 scorelines against Qatar’s Sultan Al-Kuwari and England’s Muizz Adegoke respectively, reinforcing Europe’s strength in the men’s draw.
Asian Powerhouses Maintain Momentum
Japan’s top-seeded Women’s Doubles pair Satsuki Odo and Miyu Yokoi dominated their Ukrainian opponents with a flawless 3-0 performance. Korea’s Kim Kum Yong outlasted Hungarian veteran Georgina Pota in a hard-fought 4-2 contest that captivated the morning crowd.
Pan American Representation
The Americas continue to make their presence felt, with Argentina’s Rosalba Aguiar overcoming Qatar’s Aia Mohamed 4-1, while Santiago Lorenzo pushed Sweden’s Mattias Falck to the limit before narrowly falling 3-4 in one of the day’s most dramatic encounters.
What to look forward to for Day 2
Brotherly Dynamism: The Lebrun Connection Felix and Alexis Lebrun will look to extend their impressive form as they begin their Men’s Doubles campaign against Spain’s Daniel Berzosa and Juan Perez at 12:40 (GMT+3). Fresh from their triumph at WTT Finals Fukuoka 2024, the French brothers face a Spanish duo eager to establish themselves on the world stage.
Asian Titans Clash Again Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Korea’s Lim Jonghoon renew their riveting rivalry at 12:40 (GMT+3). With their head-to-head delicately poised at 4-3 in Harimoto’s favour, this eighth encounter promises the same high-quality rallies that characterised their quarterfinal at WTT Star Contender Bangkok 2024.
Youth Takes Centre Stage At just 16 years old, Japan’s Miwa Harimoto will make her singles World Championships Finals debut against Ukraine’s experienced Margaryta Pesotska at 13:20 (GMT+3). This intriguing first-time matchup pits Harimoto’s youthful energy and recent WTT Contender Tunis 2025 success against Pesotska’s tactical experience.
As Day 2 continues to unfold, table tennis fans worldwide are witnessing not only the sport’s truly global reach but also the thrill of championship table tennis, where rankings are being challenged and new stars are emerging from all corners of the globe.
