It was heartbreak for World No.32 Simon Gauzy, as the French artist bowed out of Europe Smash – Sweden 2025 after an electrifying battle with World No.1 Lin Shidong in the Men’s Singles semifinals (11-4, 7-11, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7).
Coming into the match with a recent defeat to Lin at Singapore Smash 2025, Gauzy had every reason to fight for redemption. And fight he did, stepping into the Renaissance ⚜ Arena with a fire in his eyes and magic in his hands.
A Stunning Turnaround
Lin came out strong, taking the first game 11-4 with explosive precision. But Gauzy, fueled by motivation and his unique flair, turned the tide and stunned the Chinese top seed by winning the next three games in a row. Leading 3-1, the Frenchman seemed just moments away from reaching the final.
Then came the fifth game – a narrow win for Lin. In the sixth, Gauzy had a 9-6 lead and was on the verge of clinching the upset of the tournament.
But Lin, showcasing championship nerve, rattled off five consecutive points to force a decider. He didn’t stop there—finishing the job with a dominant 11-7 final game to crush Gauzy’s dream run.
Moregard’s Dream Final Awaits
Awaiting Lin Shidong in the final is Sweden’s own Truls Möregårdh, who delighted his home crowd with a ruthless 4-0 victory over Benedikt Duda (11-7, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6).
“I was really nervous, but once I stepped on court, it all turned into adrenaline,” said a beaming Moregard. “Tactically and technically I played fantastic today. Now I will try to make the story even more perfect tomorrow.”
With his aggressive play and vocal intensity, Moregard ignited the Malmö Arena crowd and heads into the final full of confidence and belief.
Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu: Title Track Activated
In the Women’s Singles bracket, Sun Yingsha avenged her previous loss to Chen Yi at the US Smash by dispatching her rival in four dominant games (11-2, 11-3, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9). The World No.1 is now one step away from another Grand Smash crown.
Wang Manyu, not to be outdone, responded with a jaw-dropping 4-0 destruction of Shi Xunyao (11-7, 12-10, 11-3, 11-7), setting up an all-Chinese showdown in the final.
“Hold my drink,” Wang seemed to say with her performance—blazing through her match with a vengeance.
Doubles Delight: Wong & Chan Shock the World
Earlier in the day, Wong Chun Ting and Chan Baldwin pulled off the surprise of the week, defeating the No.3 seeds Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng in a five-game thriller (7-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8) to win the Men’s Doubles title.
“We trusted each other. We prepared well. And we played brave,” said Wong Chun Ting after the match.
The pair from Hong Kong, China, claimed their first-ever WTT Grand Smash title in just their second appearance at this elite level—writing their names into the Malmö history books.
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