It never ceases to amaze me how he makes Timo Boll look like an amateur in that first point. Not only is Waldner not bothered by his attacks but he uses them against him! Wish we had such smart and unique plays like this nowadays!
Yaa but at the first point against boll he was down two games to nil and in that game down 9 to 4. So may be all that placement didn't really help him.
@@parthsavyasachi9348 The block was helping him win that point in a very nice fashion, so I would say it helped him very well in that situation. And that's why it was selected. For the future of our gene pool I really hope that you can understand that...
Yeah but boll vs Waldner in the early 90s …it’s a wrap man …respect to his longevity..imagine the Chinese players he played against coached against him !!.. enough said …easily the GOAT
1:59 - Blocks and walks away at the same time. The only player in history who can do that. I'm so fortunate to have met him in person. One of the best moments of my life.
When all the Chinese greats of the 90s and early 2000s played against the same man, that man became a legend. You can't help but respect him. I saw matches where the Chinese crowd cheer just as loudly for JOW points as the Chinese player points.
@@ArnHaz I would agree, but Bjorn Borg at his peak was before my time. Sadly, he has one blemish in that his arrogance tricked him in coming out of retirement to 'try' and beat the younger players with his wooden racket.
Timo became so good because he grew up playing against the master of placement. :) Just watching these games, I can feel how hard it is to play against him. He puts the ball where you least expect or want it. And the longer the ball lasts, the deeper the hole you end up with, running back and forth while he is just standing there. Must have been annoying to play agaist him. Anyone can become really good with enough practice. But this man has a rare talent for this sport.
Moregard destroyed him using Waldner's tactics so I doubt he learned much from his defeats.Rosskopf would did grow up playing against him certainly didn't.
Waldner playing TT reminds me of how Pirlo looked playing football. They made their respective sport look absolutely effortless, all while landing some of the most insane shots/passes you've ever seen vs the best players in the World 🔥
1:59 I dont know what is so amazing about that, its really easy! I tried that... i walked away just like Waldner did... of course, i missed the ball for a couple of meters but walking away is easy! xD xD what a genius!!!!
Andrew McCauley Of course, Waldner was able to be one of the greatest ever while also playing a "beautiful" style, with blocks and serves. It is subjective. I like Ma Long's fast loops but I understand that others prefer Waldner's old-school style.
This is not just a talent. This is a gift from above because such perfect blocks and hits in miliseconds and delivering with such comfort and ease, have to be given by God.
A part of the game I have never seen mastered like this. His nickname should be "eye of the storm" for his astonishing, casual cool in executing unbelievable closing shots off of blocks.
I'm new to this sport. and this guy play differently than the others... I mean the others focus on who can rally the most.. but this guy play so smart :D
+Christian Adrian Aniceta Yes indeed, you cant really copy Waldners playing style. It would be like coping Einstein in making equations. Sure, you can try, but you will most probably not even come close. Play a style that you love the most yourself. Everyone got their own style and that is what makes it more interesting.
Koki Niwa is also a pretty relaxed player and seems like he doesn't care at all hahaha also he has some crazy blocking skills with his chop block (watch the "Art of chop block" video). Kenta Matsudaira is also interesting
This is pretty much the goal of all racket sports. Get your opponent running while you stand in the center and control the game. After a while, you not only have the psychological advantage but the physiological as well. When you're opponent is fatigued you still have plenty of energy to make the better decisions. Even though I was competing in martial arts growing up, J-O was still my biggest idol. A true 🐐
he was truly something out of the ordinary, and made watching table tennis fun to Watch, and its pimp that ppl still in china talking about his legendery skills :D
A well practised man can only play like him so simply and effortlessly. I remember Roger's quote here when somebody asked him how he plays with such simplicity and effortlessness.
@@imperialmarchinhumanbowels5726 He knew he was going to direct it cross court because returning a ball with so much sidespin down the line is extremely difficult.
I love the way he plays. Places the ball where ever he wants. Plays with his opponent. Will watch other players and make a comparison about styles to see the differences.
For Waldner it was also important to give the audience something extra, to put a show on. It happened that he lost because of this, but he won many hearts because of this.
Penso que esse jogador talvez seja o mais sangue frio que já existiu jogando tênis de mesa , ele respondia uma cortada simplesmente andando e devolvendo longe do seu adversário , incrível!
+Frank Anthony Gablines Because Ma Long has a power game. He uses brutal force. His forehand smash has no equal. But it's not durable.(Fade with the time) Tha'ts common for most of the attaching players. But Waldner had a different game. He is smart, and calculative. He relies on strategy than force.That's why he was able to beat 3 generations of Chinese players and played till his 40s.The last short is the best example. Hyu also had a powerful forehand. (Like Ma) See what happens. It's not the shot is bad. Waldner uses his own force against him. Like Tai Chi or Newtons 3rd law. :)
Waldner, no doubt, REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST GIFTED & TALENTED table tennis players of ALL TIMES. ESPECIALLY NO LOOK BLOCKS & DEFENSE SKILLS IN TABLE TENNIS. SO ACCURATE, SWISS WATCH. OPPONENTS WATCH HIS BLOCKS. RAFI KITTERY MAINE USA
Definitely THE GOAT in my book I was a good player in my day County standard and I don't think I would have got a couple of points off of him that man is a genius. Take care Jan and stay safe mate love to play you one day. Tom.
This man ruled for decades, beating generations of players. My favourite Swedish athlete. It’s said that because of his gift he could of chosen any ball sport. I suppose table tennis suited him, because he never seemed to like running much, he rarely had to.
Waldner sustained a world-class level for 3 decades. Facing 3-4 breeds of new and world-class players from China plus the rest of the world and defeating them all. Waldner faced massive game-changing factors including; Speed glue, change of ball size, new high tech rubbers, new scoring system and adapted to all with great success. Waldner also reached the highest-level TT had ever seen in his prime and raised the level a few times. Waldner was far more creative and constantly developing his game by reinventing himself. This gave him the ability to beat world class players and compete for major titles up until he was 45 years old. Waldner did not come from a nation of 200 million TT players. He did not have the best infrastructure such as China and yet from a small TT community in Sweden he enabled himself to become the greatest player anyone had ever seen back in the ’80s-’90s and early ’00s.
China had a population of 1000 millon people in the 80 - 90´s and Sweden around 10...and during 71- 2000 Sweden devolped servral world champs which is nothing but astonishing. 1989 the swedish team crushed China with 5-0 in the World championship. That will never happen again from such a small country. But i should never say never...Mathias Karlsson reached the World cfinal 2019 singels and won gold 2021 with a NEW swede snatching silver in singles, Truls Möregårdh who plays a bit like Waldner. Badminton is the only sport with simular sensation. Denmark with 5-6 millions has produced wchamps since the 70´s and are currently world c and olympic champs in singels against mighty asians of at least 1500 millions.
Блестящая реакция и антиципация-он реагирует одновременно с действием соперника,нет никакого зазора!Минимум движений,сложнейший топ идет откуда-то из-под стола с каким-то диким вращением-почти не глядя ,легкое движение кисти , уходя от стола уже,непонимающий и неверящий в реальность происходящее взгляд Ма Лина)))Только Валднер мог заставить одновременно и смеяться и восторгаться своей игрой!
Seen alot of Waldner but what i find amazing about his style, is he rarly moves he makes the other player move. How can he not move? Its like hes playing another game.
Chinese players are defintley the best ever...BUT Waldner is ART . You know in these times we have a lot of satisfying memes of all kind of things. That's why he is called The Mozart, and for all reasons
because when you block timo boll and the ball goes too fast to his right, the probabilities are: 90%, he will make a cross shot to the right of waldner, 10% he will shot to the left of waldner. He knew it.
Like in this montage you can see a certain pattern in his blocking: He often plays wide angles. The "Waldner push" is a stroke that is said to originate from him - a spinny sidespin push to one side of the table that does not leave the opponent much time or space to place the ball in another way than to go cross-court. Thereby Waldner's anticipation was so good he needed much less effort for his style.
I think he stretches the opponent continuously hence forcing them do what he wants. He does not attack same place all the time. If the ball is to far in the left the player can either return in the centre or the Right. Left is pretty risk. He forces them to make the shot. Now the question is how does he make such accurate shot. which can easily go out of the court.
It looks like for Waldner time is going slower, unbelievable precision in his shots. It keeps amazing me how relaxed he is behind the table, completely in control
![Top 10 Table Tennis Players of All Time [HD]](/img/n.gif)
i love how he walks away like a boss!
yea he act like a boss :)
ɷɷɷɷ I Havee Watchedd Thisss Moviee Leakeddd Versionnn Heree : - t.co/RlKbv1hghK
Love how he starts walking away even when the ball is still live.
super comment!!) i think this too)
SAVAGE
It never ceases to amaze me how he makes Timo Boll look like an amateur in that first point. Not only is Waldner not bothered by his attacks but he uses them against him! Wish we had such smart and unique plays like this nowadays!
if you just dont look at the scoreboard lol.
@@thoughtrover6400He’s trashed Timo Boll at multiple other occasions so meh
That is a reply for the two other guys replying. This clip is not about who is better, it just about the appreciation of the beauty of the sport.
Waldner's placement is uncanny. He does what he does so effortlessly when everyone else is hopping around like a jackrabbit sweating bullets.
Yaa but at the first point against boll he was down two games to nil and in that game down 9 to 4.
So may be all that placement didn't really help him.
Waldner lost a lot of matches 'cos he was lazy@@parthsavyasachi9348 . This video is addresing his briilliant shots.
@@parthsavyasachi9348 The block was helping him win that point in a very nice fashion, so I would say it helped him very well in that situation. And that's why it was selected. For the future of our gene pool I really hope that you can understand that...
Yeah but boll vs Waldner in the early 90s …it’s a wrap man …respect to his longevity..imagine the Chinese players he played against coached against him !!.. enough said …easily the GOAT
The person closest to Waldner ..Federer ..but hey that’s a slightly different sport 😁
1:59 - Blocks and walks away at the same time. The only player in history who can do that.
I'm so fortunate to have met him in person. One of the best moments of my life.
Golden Boy The only player in history who can be this cocky and still be loved by every1
The phrase LIKE A BOSS was created for 1:59.
EnoVarma You're absolutely right. Poor Timo Boll. He suffered a lot every time he played with Walder.
+EnoVarma That was kind of like "A lot to learn you still have, young padawan!"
LaughingStock71 and then he learned and destroyed waldner later.
Armin Nurkovic 2004 OG
lmfao
We Chinese like him very much! We call him Mozart in the world of table tennis！ He's a genius!
In Sweden he allways talk much about the love from China - Thank you!
totally agree. I never seen any player play like him.
When all the Chinese greats of the 90s and early 2000s played against the same man, that man became a legend. You can't help but respect him. I saw matches where the Chinese crowd cheer just as loudly for JOW points as the Chinese player points.
I'm a proud citizen of Västertorp, a suborn outside of Stockholm. Jan Ove Waldner was born here. We must honor him with a statue over here!
Hi.Do you know him personally?? Greetings..
he must be the most known Sweden in China.
@@helpupass Pewdiepie exists
Very true
@@FiatFlipper TH-cam is banned in china
So calm and genius play! one of the legend of ping pong history!
Sheer magic. Look at the other players running like mad. J-O just stands there, in full control. Master!
i really appreciate how gracious he is in victory, never choing or uttering a single word, despite making such great shots
Yes, the Swedes are generally like that - look at their great Tennis Players - Stafan Edberg, Matts Willander...etc...Very calm and gracious.
Moregard gives you a big thumb down
@@matonatomic Surely the best example would be Bjorn Borg?
@@ArnHaz I would agree, but Bjorn Borg at his peak was before my time. Sadly, he has one blemish in that his arrogance tricked him in coming out of retirement to 'try' and beat the younger players with his wooden racket.
Timo became so good because he grew up playing against the master of placement. :)
Just watching these games, I can feel how hard it is to play against him. He puts the ball where you least expect or want it.
And the longer the ball lasts, the deeper the hole you end up with, running back and forth while he is just standing there.
Must have been annoying to play agaist him.
Anyone can become really good with enough practice. But this man has a rare talent for this sport.
God bless you, he’s the Messi of Tennis
Moregard destroyed him using Waldner's tactics so I doubt he learned much from his defeats.Rosskopf would did grow up playing against him certainly didn't.
must be so frustrating to play against him...
lol idd
Rlly..
That's what Timo said in an interview
Very frustrating.
The man with the golden wrist. Easily my favourite player of all time.
3:08 No words....Simply The Best!!!
he just seems to be totally in one with the ball, table and bat. effortless
1:59 ... walking away already as if to say "nice try kid"
2:18 ... table tennis... the only sport fast enough where there's spectator LAG.
hahahaha I laughed so hard at that part xD
What a fucking boss
Its him and Mark Hunt who pulls that off
simply amazing. "who's your daddy?" :-)
That "Nonchalant walk in the park" at 02:00 and "That's how it's done" at 03:13, though.
I think the penholder was Liu Guoliang
Waldner playing TT reminds me of how Pirlo looked playing football. They made their respective sport look absolutely effortless, all while landing some of the most insane shots/passes you've ever seen vs the best players in the World 🔥
1:59 I dont know what is so amazing about that, its really easy! I tried that... i walked away just like Waldner did... of course, i missed the ball for a couple of meters but walking away is easy! xD xD
what a genius!!!!
JAJAJAJAJA
Ger 717 i actually reproduced that Waldner walk and block but i blocked it with my backhand not forehand and my team mate told me “just like Waldner”.
@@isithardtobevegan53 i play table tennis too. How do you rank yourself ryt now? And is it really hard to be vegan?
@@rvsalonga3065 not hard to be vegan in my opinion and I am still an amateur in the world of table tennis. Still.trying to improve of course.
@@isithardtobevegan53 how long have you been vegan dude? And what racket r u currently using ryt now?
Mozart was the Waldner of Composers.
fobef Mozart had equals like Bach, Beethoven etc.
Waldner didn't.
Andrew McCauley
Well, Ma Long looks to be a threat to his GOAT ranking, and so did Liu and Kong in the past.
I have great respect for Ma Long's skills, but I'd have to say there isn't much beautiful about his game like there is about Waldner's.
Andrew McCauley Of course, Waldner was able to be one of the greatest ever while also playing a "beautiful" style, with blocks and serves.
It is subjective. I like Ma Long's fast loops but I understand that others prefer Waldner's old-school style.
Mozart never played table tennis !!! 👿
He can see the future...
Who can see the future...
Doc Brown can see it.
His Observation Haki is more advanced than Katakuri
@Asian Caillou DIIIIIIOOOOOOO
@@nithilas7211 one pieeeeecceeeeeeeee
He made TT look so simple from one side of table, while the one at other side was putting everything😇
The Yoda of table tennis ..absolute class…
This is not just a talent. This is a gift from above because such perfect blocks and hits in miliseconds and delivering with such comfort and ease, have to be given by God.
Amen! One can't put in what God left out....
All is god given
A part of the game I have never seen mastered like this. His nickname should be "eye of the storm" for his astonishing, casual cool in executing unbelievable closing shots off of blocks.
This guy is a legend. I don't really follow table tennis but i often heard this guy's name.
Back then Table tennis was a Swedish national treasure and J-O Waldner was both king and conqueror.
I'm new to this sport. and this guy play differently than the others...
I mean the others focus on who can rally the most.. but this guy play so smart :D
+Christian Adrian Aniceta waldner is the king of table tennis...
polychronio I agree :D .. though I decided to based my style on Liu Guoliang since it felt suitable in my playing style more..
+Christian Adrian Aniceta Yes indeed, you cant really copy Waldners playing style. It would be like coping Einstein in making equations. Sure, you can try, but you will most probably not even come close.
Play a style that you love the most yourself. Everyone got their own style and that is what makes it more interesting.
Ahldor yeah :D playing penhold is hard but sure is fun for me.. and I play flat hit with short pips .. it seems to suit me better
Koki Niwa is also a pretty relaxed player and seems like he doesn't care at all hahaha also he has some crazy blocking skills with his chop block (watch the "Art of chop block" video). Kenta Matsudaira is also interesting
by far the most inspirational TT video out there
This is pretty much the goal of all racket sports. Get your opponent running while you stand in the center and control the game. After a while, you not only have the psychological advantage but the physiological as well. When you're opponent is fatigued you still have plenty of energy to make the better decisions. Even though I was competing in martial arts growing up, J-O was still my biggest idol. A true 🐐
Effortless brilliant and maximum
Look at all these poor dudes, struggling like there's no tomorrow. And Waldners just like: whatever…
One word : genius
So Great...
Tu
missed ur videos man!
I have so many words of describing this guy. I don't want to bore you with all of them tho.
he was truly something out of the ordinary, and made watching table tennis fun to Watch, and its pimp that ppl still in china talking about his legendery skills :D
JO Waldner inspired me since 1990 he won Gold Olimpic Medal. He is really calming like a boss.
Amazing how little he moves around, he makes the opponent run back and forth :)
That's why he put on some weight. Dude never had to move :)
Excellent skill. Confident, purposeful movement and focus without any wasted energy.
A well practised man can only play like him so simply and effortlessly. I remember Roger's quote here when somebody asked him how he plays with such simplicity and effortlessness.
One of the greatest players in the world, if not the greatest.
@Prototype10 who's the greatest?
@@dimasabd3186Ma Long rn
Double grand slam,longest WR NO.1 and a lot more
haha, young Timo was very cute!
+EdenOreo And also confused. It's like what's the matter with me. :D
asl?
@@Nerdcrusher Now 40 male Düsseldorf
Everyone comparing his game to today's, he had a gift for the game point blank......past, present, future.....
Jedi Ove Waldner
I first played competitively during a time when he was the king of TT, and I am so glad for it.
Lol the match at 1:56 where he literally starts to walk off and proceeds to block while doing so.
And his opponent is like "dude what?"
Ken Yun the craziest bit is that that opponent is Timo Boll!!
Such confidence "I know you are going to return it exactly here and I know you will not return my block."
@@imperialmarchinhumanbowels5726 He knew he was going to direct it cross court because returning a ball with so much sidespin down the line is extremely difficult.
He looks like a 👧
2.00 That block to timo boll was hillarious! :D He made timo boll look like a beginner. Jan ove Waldner you legend!
I love the way he plays. Places the ball where ever he wants. Plays with his opponent. Will watch other players and make a comparison about styles to see the differences.
I am german and Boll is an amazing player himself but it's hilarious how frustrated he is getting beat by those blocks.
King of tabletennis!
Jan Ove Waldner, the Maestro, Tactician, one of the all time greats of Table-Tennis.
The play at 2.00 is probably the best executed point I have ever seen...Genius.
For Waldner it was also important to give the audience something extra, to put a show on. It happened that he lost because of this, but he won many hearts because of this.
2:00 his majesty Waldner the king
Genious! I just love this ❤! The true GOAT of table tennis 🙏😍!
The way he changes the spin is just great to watch .. !
Penso que esse jogador talvez seja o mais sangue frio que já existiu jogando tênis de mesa , ele respondia uma cortada simplesmente andando e devolvendo longe do seu adversário , incrível!
Great Respect him from China. He almost alone competed with three generations of Chinese TT team.
Der Roger Federer des Tischtennis...!! Einfach der genialste Spieler aller Zeiten!!
looks like aikido in table tennis.
Or a weird kind of premonition...
absolutely amazing!
Jan Ove Waldner was so chill😎
His reflex is just ubelievable
he is so humble and greatest player in the table tennis history
Ma long is the goat no disrespect to waldner but I don't think anyone beats 2015 ma long
@@stevehines311 2015 Ma Long seems invincible 'cause he played against minnows.
I've never seen Ma Long hit those blocks like how Waldner did!!! WOW!
+Frank Anthony Gablines Haha Waldner was great, but Ma Long is on another level. Table-tennis has evolved so much now.
+Vincent Theo that "another level" made ma long a lesser god
+Frank Anthony Gablines Because Ma Long has a power game. He uses brutal force. His forehand smash has no equal. But it's not durable.(Fade with the time) Tha'ts common for most of the attaching players. But Waldner had a different game. He is smart, and calculative. He relies on strategy than force.That's why he was able to beat 3 generations of Chinese players and played till his 40s.The last short is the best example. Hyu also had a powerful forehand. (Like Ma) See what happens. It's not the shot is bad. Waldner uses his own force against him. Like Tai Chi or Newtons 3rd law. :)
@@MasterNeoRNCP Very well said. Love it!
1:55 " I'm gonna beat you Jan!"
2:00 " You were saying?"
02:12 "this is already finished kiddo" walks away like a BOSS
Waldner, no doubt, REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST GIFTED & TALENTED table tennis players of ALL TIMES. ESPECIALLY NO LOOK BLOCKS & DEFENSE SKILLS IN TABLE TENNIS. SO ACCURATE, SWISS WATCH. OPPONENTS WATCH HIS BLOCKS.
RAFI KITTERY MAINE USA
I suppose you got your message across. And I agree, JO is special. But he doesn't want people to shout about it.
Definitely THE GOAT in my book I was a good player in my day County standard and I don't think I would have got a couple of points off of him that man is a genius. Take care Jan and stay safe mate love to play you one day. Tom.
Grattis på 50-års dagen
1:58 he is already know a second in the future
This man ruled for decades, beating generations of players. My favourite Swedish athlete. It’s said that because of his gift he could of chosen any ball sport.
I suppose table tennis suited him, because he never seemed to like running much, he rarely had to.
3:10 listen for "three one seven" right when it hits that time!
Robert Piseno Well, Waldner won that set against Liu 21-7 from what I recall.
2:00 is fantastic
Waldner sustained a world-class level for 3 decades. Facing 3-4 breeds of new and world-class players from China plus the rest of the world and defeating them all.
Waldner faced massive game-changing factors including; Speed glue, change of ball size, new high tech rubbers, new scoring system and adapted to all with great success.
Waldner also reached the highest-level TT had ever seen in his prime and raised the level a few times.
Waldner was far more creative and constantly developing his game by reinventing himself. This gave him the ability to beat world class players and compete for major titles up until he was 45 years old.
Waldner did not come from a nation of 200 million TT players. He did not have the best infrastructure such as China and yet from a small TT community in Sweden he enabled himself to become the greatest player anyone had ever seen back in the ’80s-’90s and early ’00s.
China had a population of 1000 millon people in the 80 - 90´s and Sweden around 10...and during 71- 2000 Sweden devolped servral world champs which is nothing but astonishing. 1989 the swedish team crushed China with 5-0 in the World championship. That will never happen again from such a small country. But i should never say never...Mathias Karlsson reached the World cfinal 2019 singels and won gold 2021 with a NEW swede snatching silver in singles, Truls Möregårdh who plays a bit like Waldner. Badminton is the only sport with simular sensation. Denmark with 5-6 millions has produced wchamps since the 70´s and are currently world c and olympic champs in singels against mighty asians of at least 1500 millions.
Waldner.
Stationary, subtle, sublime.
So confident, dominant and sure!
1:07 Pure genius
Congrats, Timo, you get to be in a highlight reel.
Waldner is always the greatest player forever and ever...
20年以上前、幕張メッセで行われた、世界卓球を観戦、予選リーグなので、間近に観ました、真っ白で、細くて、神業のプレイに、釘付けになりました。移動ですれ違うとき、思わず背中をタッチしてしまいました。懐かしいです。
my all time favourite
こんな凄い選手がいたなんて、今まで知らなかった。ネットのおかげだ。
現代の日本卓球に活かされているように思う。
横文字だらけのコメントに、是非とも日本語を残したかった。
At 3:12... What a great shot from Liu Guoliang..& the legend replied as try next time. Like a boss!!
Fantastic anticipation ! Even Boll appreciated the genius.
Super reflex!
I dont care about them chinese players titles. This is the most gifted player ever. He does things noone can believe. Its crazy, beyond normal
Doesen't even feel like Waldner is taking this seriously. He just humiliates the players making them run around the table like good dogs.
Блестящая реакция и антиципация-он реагирует одновременно с действием соперника,нет никакого зазора!Минимум движений,сложнейший топ идет откуда-то из-под стола с каким-то диким вращением-почти не глядя ,легкое движение кисти , уходя от стола уже,непонимающий и неверящий в реальность происходящее взгляд Ма Лина)))Только Валднер мог заставить одновременно и смеяться и восторгаться своей игрой!
I love his determination and his shyness. 💪🇸🇪
this is so beautiful its almost art....very few people can match Waldner in that department. Maybe Samsonov....
The last block had a touch of Jedi. He is the master :-)
Man, he plays it so effortlessly. I can see why people call him GOAT.
Seen alot of Waldner but what i find amazing about his style, is he rarly moves he makes the other player move. How can he not move? Its like hes playing another game.
The best of all time "The forever green tree"
The cheekiness is awe inspiring :)
Chinese players are defintley the best ever...BUT Waldner is ART . You know in these times we have a lot of satisfying memes of all kind of things. That's why he is called The Mozart, and for all reasons
You can return anything in table tennis if you know where it's going. The question is: how did he know?
because when you block timo boll and the ball goes too fast to his right, the probabilities are: 90%, he will make a cross shot to the right of waldner, 10% he will shot to the left of waldner. He knew it.
Experience and tremendous understanding of the game (table tennis IQ, if you will), that allows him to read and anticipate.
Like in this montage you can see a certain pattern in his blocking: He often plays wide angles. The "Waldner push" is a stroke that is said to originate from him - a spinny sidespin push to one side of the table that does not leave the opponent much time or space to place the ball in another way than to go cross-court. Thereby Waldner's anticipation was so good he needed much less effort for his style.
I think he stretches the opponent continuously hence forcing them do what he wants. He does not attack same place all the time. If the ball is to far in the left the player can either return in the centre or the Right. Left is pretty risk. He forces them to make the shot. Now the question is how does he make such accurate shot. which can easily go out of the court.
Love his style!
Simon Gauzy made nearly the same block against Wang Yang at WTTC 2019 !
1:59 like a BOSS!!!
He "simply" sends the ball the further from the opponent. Unlike the majority of players, who keep sending the ball where the opponent already is.
It looks like for Waldner time is going slower, unbelievable precision in his shots. It keeps amazing me how relaxed he is behind the table, completely in control
Waldner is not human.