Ma Long swept defending champion Zhang Jike 4-0 in the Rio 2016 Olympic men’s singles final, securing the gold medal that completed his career Grand Slam in table tennis.
An opening game that decided the night
The final at Riocentro – Pavilion 3 began with furious rallies. Ma built an early 8-4 lead, but Zhang clawed back to edge ahead 9-8 with sharp backhand strikes down the line.
Both men sensed how critical the first game would be. Ma steeled himself and took it 14-12, seizing a psychological advantage that shaped the entire match.
Three commanding frames to seal history
Ma’s backhand-to-backhand exchanges dominated the second game. He doubled his lead with an emphatic 11-5, exposing a flaw in the champion’s rally patterns.
The third game became a masterclass of attack and counter-attack. Ma extended his advantage 11-4, moving within one game of the title as the arena noise reached fever pitch.
Zhang’s body language sagged in the fourth. He called an early timeout after falling behind 3-0 but found no alternative, and Ma closed the contest 11-4 to complete the sweep.
A Grand Slam sealed, a flag lifted together
Ma joined the small circle of just 10 players ever to hold singles titles at the Olympic Games, World Championships and World Cup simultaneously. Zhang himself carried the same honour from London 2012, and now passed the Olympic crown to his countryman in Rio.
“We both know each other very well, so it’s not a competition of skills, but more of mentality,” Ma told reporters afterwards. The two rivals then stood side by side lifting the Chinese flag as the new champion shaped a heart with his hands to the crowd.
