Harimoto wins first round at China Smash 2026 as Matsushima reaches No. 1

Japanese table tennis player Tomokazu Harimoto secured a 3-2 comeback victory over Denmark’s Jonathan Groth in the men’s singles first round at the WTT China Smash 2026 on Oct. 5, 2026, overcoming a two-game deficit and a slow start complicated by his opponent’s deliberate pacing, according to tv-tokyo.co.jp.

Tomokazu Harimoto Overcomes Slow Start Against Jonathan Groth

Harimoto dropped the first two games 9-11 and 7-11 before mounting a three-game sweep to take the match 3-2 at the tournament in Beijing. Speaking to reporters after the match, Harimoto attributed his early struggles partly to Groth taking an extended amount of time before serving. tv-tokyo.co.jp reported that Harimoto noted his opponent spent roughly 10 to 20 seconds before putting the ball in play, disrupting his receiving rhythm and leaving his body stiff during subsequent rallies.

Rallys.online reported that Harimoto elaborated on the tactical stalling in his post-match interview, stating that while the slow pacing borderlines on rule violations and depends entirely on the referee’s discretion, it serves as proof of his own growing status. Rallys.online quoted Harimoto saying, 正々堂々、技術や戦術で勝負してほしいですね。まともにやっても絶対勝てないから、そういうスレスレのことをやらないとというのは分かります。

Clutch Finish Secures Victory in the Final Game

After rebounding to win the third game 11-2 and the fourth game 11-9, Harimoto faced a steep deficit in the deciding fifth game. tv-tokyo.co.jp noted that Groth held leads of 8-4 and 9-6 before Harimoto claimed five consecutive points to seal the final game 11-9. Harimoto acknowledged his frustration with the opening performance, telling tv-tokyo.co.jp that it marked his worst start to a tournament opener within the 2026 WTT circuit.

Matsushima Sora Claims Historic World Number One Ranking

The opening round win unfolded on the same day the International Table Tennis Federation published its week 41 world rankings for the 2026 season, elevating 19-year-old Sora Matsushima to the men’s singles number one spot. According to Yahoo!ニュース, Matsushima surpassed Wang Chuqin of China to capture the top position, making him the first Japanese male player to reach number one under the modern ranking system and the youngest Japanese player to achieve the feat at 19 years and five months old. Olympics.com noted that this marks the first time in 46 years a Japanese male player has occupied the world’s top ranking, following Seiji Ono in 1980.

Harimoto Challenges Matsushima for Number One Ranking

Addressing his compatriot’s milestone after his own match, Harimoto offered public congratulations while immediately staking his own claim to the top spot. Tv-tokyo.co.jp reported that Harimoto said, ソラ、おめでとう while adding a competitive warning regarding the duration of Matsushima’s reign. Rallys.online confirmed that Harimoto intends to challenge for the number one ranking directly during the ongoing tournament in Beijing.

Both players sit on a collision course in the tournament bracket, with a potential semifinal match looming if they continue advancing. Tv-tokyo.co.jp noted that Harimoto outlined his objective to meet Matsushima later in the week, stating his intent to defeat him in the semifinals and capture the tournament title to claim the world number one ranking for himself.