Sun Yingsha Sweeps Double-Header at WTT US Grand Smash
World No. 1 Sun Yingsha delivered a commanding performance at the 2026 WTT United States Smash on June 29, sweeping both her mixed doubles and women’s singles matches in straight sets to advance decisively in the tournament held at the Ontario Convention Center in California. The Chinese table tennis star, competing on the second day of main draw action, dropped just one game across two matches spanning more than three hours.
Dominant Day on the Court
Sun first took the court alongside mixed doubles partner and men’s world No. 1 Wang Chuqin. The fourth-seeded pair, who received a first-round bye, dispatched Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej and Tatiana Kukulkova 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-4) in just 20 minutes to secure a quarterfinal berth, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
More than three hours later, Sun returned to the table for her women’s singles Round of 64 match against Australia’s Liu Yangzi. Unlike their previous encounter at the 2025 US Smash, where Sun needed five games to prevail 3-2, this time she controlled the match from start to finish, winning 3-0 (11-9, 11-3, 11-6) to advance to the Round of 32.
Preparation Pays Off
Sun attributed her improved performance to better tournament preparation. Speaking after her singles victory, she noted that the Chinese team arrived a week early this year, compared to just four days before the 2025 edition, allowing her to fully adjust to the time zone and physical demands.
“Both of our matches have been in the first round of the US Smash. Last year, I played on the fourth day after arriving — the jet lag and physical condition weren’t fully adjusted. This time, we arrived a week early to prepare, and my mental and physical state is much better. My movement, offensive aggression, and overall energy on court are improved. Mental state is very important for me.”
Wang Chuqin, meanwhile, acknowledged that the pair’s mixed doubles partnership — which had not competed together in over six months — still has room for growth. “The first match felt a bit unfamiliar,” he said. “I hope as the tournament progresses, we can gradually find good form.”
Strong Showing for Chinese Team
Sun’s double-header sweep was part of a broader display of depth from the Chinese national team. Wen Ruibo also won both his mixed doubles (with Kuai Man) and men’s singles matches 3-0 on the same day. In women’s singles, Chen Xingtong, Qin Yuxuan, and Wang Yidi all advanced past the first round, while Chen Yi fell 2-3 to German veteran Han Ying.
According to the official WTT US Smash website, the tournament runs from June 26 to July 5, featuring top players from around the world competing across men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events. After the opening rounds, seven Chinese women and four Chinese men advanced to the singles Round of 32.
Sun Yingsha’s Legacy
At 25, Sun Yingsha is widely regarded as the face of Chinese women’s table tennis in the post-2020 era. She made history as the first post-2000s-born player to win a World Championship singles title at the 2023 Durban World Championships and recently achieved an unprecedented Women’s World Cup three-peat from 2024 to 2026. As of the latest ITTF rankings published in February 2026, Sun leads the women’s singles standings with 10,125 points, as confirmed by the Chinese Olympic Committee.
What to Watch For
As the tournament progresses into its second week, all eyes will be on whether Sun can maintain her momentum across both events. The Wang Chuqin/Sun Yingsha mixed doubles partnership — nicknamed “Sha Tou” by fans — will face increasingly tough competition in the quarterfinals, while Sun’s women’s singles campaign continues in the Round of 32. With the finals scheduled for July 3-5, the world No. 1 remains the player to beat in both draws.