The first time I saw Waldner in action was at the 1989 World Championships in the final against his team mate Jorgen Persson. It was an incredible display from both players on how table tennis had advanced in the 80s thanks to the Swedes. Whenever I ask friends who do they think is the best player they have ever seen, they usually say Jan Ove. He has the triple crown in table tennis, Euro Champ, World Champ and Olympic Champ.
One of the main reasons that justifies him as the best of all time is that the Chinese could not compete with him during the years 1989-1999. Before the new service rule came in, his serves were the best. He used so much deception and made opponents look clumsy. He had the chinese players on a piece of string and would have them running around while he stayed calm up close to the table dominating the rallies. He would use his counter hitting backhands down the fh line of his opponent then fade the ball wide out the other wing. It was a strategy that he used quite frequently and had it perfected
Many of the Chinese players of today have won the triple crown except Euros which obviously they cannot compete in. They play the World Cup or National Championships. I have included a piece of video footage from 1993 of Waldner playing Grubba (Pol) Its a rally that shows how Waldner was just amazing especially the backhand loop and then the smash. Grubba was world class and left us too early:( (RIP)
Happy New Year! JB
One of the main reasons that justifies him as the best of all time is that the Chinese could not compete with him during the years 1989-1999. Before the new service rule came in, his serves were the best. He used so much deception and made opponents look clumsy. He had the chinese players on a piece of string and would have them running around while he stayed calm up close to the table dominating the rallies. He would use his counter hitting backhands down the fh line of his opponent then fade the ball wide out the other wing. It was a strategy that he used quite frequently and had it perfected
Many of the Chinese players of today have won the triple crown except Euros which obviously they cannot compete in. They play the World Cup or National Championships. I have included a piece of video footage from 1993 of Waldner playing Grubba (Pol) Its a rally that shows how Waldner was just amazing especially the backhand loop and then the smash. Grubba was world class and left us too early:( (RIP)
Happy New Year! JB
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