Wang Chuqin says his slump has let him take a hard look at himself after WTT Champions Frankfurt exit

Wang Chuqin has said his slump has given him the chance to take a hard look at himself, in his first public words since Wen Ruibo knocked him out of WTT Champions Frankfurt in straight games.

The former world No 1 posted on Weibo on Monday, days after the defeat, and the topic went straight to the top of the platform's trending list. "These days I have kept reflecting on and taking stock of myself," he wrote. "Going through a low point has given me the chance to look at myself again, and to understand more deeply where I need to improve."

Thanks to the coaches

Wang thanked China's coaches, among them Wang Hao, as well as the support staff and his teammates for their backing. "Whatever difficulties we face, we always trust each other, support each other and move forward side by side," he wrote, adding that the strength of the team had made him more determined to keep going.

He ended with a promise to the fans. "I will keep adjusting and improving myself with courage, resilience and wisdom, and find a better version of myself," he wrote, saying he wanted to live up to his duty and to the expectations placed on him.

Two months without a run

The post caps a difficult autumn. Wang was the world No 1 for much of the year, but he lost the Asian Games final 4-0 to his teammate Lin Shidong on 28 September, withdrew injured from China Smash two days later and then missed the Asian Championships and WTT Champions Montpellier.

Frankfurt was his first event for more than a month. He beat Denmark's Anders Lind 11-7, 14-12, 11-9 in the first round but then lost 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 to the 19-year-old Wen in the last 16. Wen went out to Lin Yun-Ju in the quarter-finals, and no Chinese man reached the semi-finals.

Wang is now the world No 4. China's men finished the six-event 2026 WTT Champions series without a singles title, while Japan won half of the 12 titles, and Tomokazu Harimoto beat Patrick Franziska in the Frankfurt final.

'Not one person's problem'

The post drew support in China. Cheng Jingqi, speaking on Migu Sports' table tennis programme, praised Wang for taking responsibility and said his attacking game was still among the best in the world, though his switch from defence to attack could improve.

Cheng argued that the problems facing China's men could not all be put on Wang. He said that every opponent was now studying Wang as the man to beat, and that a crowded calendar left little time to work on his game, a difficulty the whole team shared. He also noted that Wang had only recently taken on the captaincy, and described him as still the strongest card China's men have.

What comes next

China's next big team event is the Mixed Team World Cup in Chengdu, which starts on 29 November,, and the WTT Finals Hong Kong follow from 8 December.