Tomokazu Harimoto has firmly established himself as the star of the WTT Series, capturing yet another title at the WTT Star Contender Bangkok 2024. Just a week after clinching a triple crown at WTT Contender Tunis, Harimoto repeated his stellar performance in Thailand.
In an outstanding display, Harimoto swept aside defending champion and top seed Lin Gaoyuan in the Men's Singles final, winning 4-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9). Lin, who had previously secured a triple crown in 2023, could not keep pace with the relentless Harimoto. The Japanese sensation blazed through the match, leaving Lin trailing far behind.
“Following last week’s victories in Tunis, securing a triple crown for the second consecutive week and winning six titles in two weeks is beyond anything I imagined. When I left Japan, I hoped for one or two titles. Achieving this is simply unbelievable, and I’m absolutely thrilled,” Harimoto said.
Harimoto’s aggressive forehands were unstoppable throughout the match. Despite Lin’s slight edge on paper, with a 4-3 head-to-head record, Harimoto dominated from start to finish. Unlike their previous encounter at WTT Champions European Summer Series 2022, where Harimoto made a remarkable comeback from 0-3 down, this final saw him win four straight games with no dramatic turns.
From the very first serve, Harimoto set the pace, never trailing in the first three games. His relentless counter-attacks overwhelmed Lin, who struggled to keep up. Although Lin showed some fight in the fourth game, his brief two-point lead was quickly overturned by the determined Harimoto.
Harimoto sealed his victory in just about 30 minutes, a performance that left even him surprised: “It’s incredible to have won the final 4-0 today. Honestly, I gave everything in both the semifinals and the final, yet I still feel energised. This event has significantly boosted my confidence in my physical strength,” he remarked.
Harimoto’s success in Bangkok also included a clean sweep of titles. He wrapped up the Men’s Doubles title on Day 3 and claimed the Mixed Doubles crown with Hina Hayata earlier on the final day, defeating Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem 3-1 (11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8).
For Hayata, the Mixed Doubles victory was a perfect birthday gift. “I just turned 24 today, and I believe this is the best birthday present I could ask for!” she exclaimed.
Adding these three trophies to his collection, Harimoto has set new records in Bangkok. He now boasts his career-best singles winning streak, extending it to 10 consecutive matches after today’s triumphs.
Source: WTT