Tomokazu Harimoto Suffers Humiliating Defeat: Shouldn’t Panic in Crucial Moments, Japanese Media Look to World Championships

In the WTT Singapore Grand Slam men’s singles Round of 16, Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto fell 2-3 to veteran Germany’s Franziska, ending his run in the top 16. The five-game scoreline read 11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11. World No.4 Harimoto held a 1-0 lead and was even up 3-1 in the decider, only to be overturned—a crushing defeat that marked a humiliating setback in his career.

Japanese media highlighted that no Japanese male player reached the quarterfinals in Singapore. Particularly striking was that Harimoto had previously won all nine encounters against Franziska, making this loss all the more shocking.

In the deciding game, Harimoto opened 3-1, was pulled back to 3-3, and then Franziska went ahead 4-3. Harimoto equalized at 4-4, but Franziska scored three consecutive points to lead 7-4. Harimoto fought back to 8-8, yet the veteran sealed the win with three straight points, finishing 11-8.

After the match, Harimoto reflected: “Losing the second and third games so easily was the turning point. I got confused by my opponent’s strong form and couldn’t adjust tactics in time. Even in the decider, Franziska’s threatening long shots caught me off guard—I shouldn’t have panicked in key moments, otherwise defeat is inevitable.”

Notably, since winning the 2025 WTT Hong Kong Finals, Harimoto has failed to capture a title in five consecutive events in 2026, including the WTT Doha Championship, Doha Star Challenge, All Japan Championships, Asian Cup, and Singapore Grand Slam, showing a dip in form.

However, Japanese media remain supportive. With the upcoming WTT Chongqing Championship and the team lineup for the World Table Tennis Championships in London on April 28 confirmed, Harimoto is still considered a core member, and the media believe he and the Japanese men’s team can still claim a spot on the world stage.