Men's singles · 2026-07-19

Christo Popov vs Koki Watanabe — Japan Open 2026, F

Christo Popov won 2–0

AI-powered rally-by-rally match analysis.

Christo Popov dominated the first game with a decisive 8-point run from 13-11 that closed it out 21-11, establishing control through superior smash finishing. The second game proved tighter with three lead changes and Watanabe mounting a brief comeback to 18-17, but Popov held firm to win 21-19 and take the match. Popov's aggressive shot selection and smash efficiency proved the difference across both games, while Watanabe's net errors and inability to sustain pressure in crucial moments ultimately cost him the match.

Point progression

Christo PopovKoki Watanabe

0510152021

Running score across 72 tracked rallies, Christo Popov against Koki Watanabe. Games closed 21–11, 21–19.

View game scores

Game	Christo Popov	Koki Watanabe
Game 1	21	11
Game 2	21	19

Rally length

Avg rally — by shots

11.5shots

Avg rally — by time

13.1sec

Rallies by length (shots)

1–2

3–4

5–8

9–14

15–20

21+

72 rallies tracked, most of them (33%) in the 5–8 shot band. The longest ran 67 shots.

View data

Length (shots)	Rallies	Avg seconds
1–2	3	4.7
3–4	13	5.7
5–8	24	8.6
9–14	19	12.6
15–20	5	17.2
21+	8	39.8

Shot patterns

Most common 3-shot runs

1.A1Backhand Clear Cross→B1Forehand Drop Straight→A1Forehand Lift Cross
Happened 3× out of 69 rallies
2.A1Backhand Lift Cross→B1Forehand Smash Straight→A1Forehand Block Straight
Happened 3× out of 69 rallies
3.A1Forehand Block Straight→B1Forehand Spin Net Straight→A1Forehand Lift Cross
Happened 3× out of 69 rallies
4.A1Forehand Drive Straight→B1Forehand Block Straight→A1Forehand Flat Push Straight
Happened 3× out of 69 rallies
5.B1Backhand Block Straight→A1Backhand Net Cross→B1Forehand Lift Cross
Happened 3× out of 69 rallies

Most common 5-shot runs

1.A1Backhand Drive Straight→B1Backhand Block Straight→A1Backhand Flat Push Straight→B1Around-the-Head Smash Straight→A1Backhand Lift Cross
Happened 2× out of 69 rallies
2.A1Long Serve Body→B1Forehand Drive Straight→A1Forehand Block Straight→B1Forehand Spin Net Straight→A1Forehand High Lift Straight
Happened 1× out of 69 rallies
3.A1Long Serve Body→B1Forehand Half Smash Straight→A1Forehand Block Straight→B1Forehand Block Straight→A1Forehand Lift Cross
Happened 1× out of 69 rallies
4.A1Short Serve Body→B1Backhand Drive Cross→A1Forehand Drive Cross→B1Around-the-Head Drive Straight→A1Backhand Block Straight
Happened 1× out of 69 rallies
5.A1Short Serve Body→B1Backhand Drive Straight→A1Backhand Clear Cross→B1Forehand Drop Straight→A1Forehand Lift Cross
Happened 1× out of 69 rallies

Who did what

Most winners

Christo Popov

Most errors forced

Koki Watanabe

Most unforced errors

Koki Watanabe

By player

Christo Popov

416 shots

Winners 14Forced 6Unforced 14

Most-used shots

click a bar

Of 416 shots Christo Popov played, the most used were lift (25%), block (17%) and net (17%).

View data

Shot	Share	Shots
Lift	25%	102
Block	17%	70
Net	17%	69
Serve	10%	42
Drive	10%	42
Drop	8%	35

Points won — by shot

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Smash

26%

My winner6Forced opp. error5Drew opp. unforced0

My winnerForced opp. errorDrew opp. unforced

Points Christo Popov won break down by the shot that ended them — led by smash (26%), block (19%) and lift (17%).

View data

Shot	Share
Smash	26%
Block	19%
Lift	17%
Net	17%
Brush	7%
Drop	5%
Serve	5%
Clear	2%
Drive	2%

Points lost — by shot

click a bar

Block

23%

Opp. winner0My forced error7My unforced error0

Opp. winnerMy forced errorMy unforced error

Points Christo Popov lost break down by the shot that ended them — led by block (23%), lift (23%) and kill (13%).

View data

Shot	Share
Block	23%
Lift	23%
Kill	13%
Drop	10%
Net	10%
Smash	10%
Drive	7%
Brush	3%

Rally outcome

unforced error50%
winner31%
forced error19%

How rallies involving Christo Popov ended: unforced error (50%), winner (31%) and forced error (19%).

View data

Outcome	Share
unforced error	50%
winner	31%
forced error	19%

Koki Watanabe

410 shots

Winners 8Forced 8Unforced 22

Most-used shots

click a bar

Of 410 shots Koki Watanabe played, the most used were net (21%), lift (20%) and block (15%).

View data

Shot	Share	Shots
Net	21%	87
Lift	20%	80
Block	15%	61
Drop	10%	41
Smash	10%	39
Drive	10%	39

Points won — by shot

click a bar

Net

27%

My winner0Forced opp. error0Drew opp. unforced8

My winnerForced opp. errorDrew opp. unforced

Points Koki Watanabe won break down by the shot that ended them — led by net (27%), smash (20%) and drive (17%).

View data

Shot	Share
Net	27%
Smash	20%
Drive	17%
Kill	13%
Block	10%
Lift	7%
Clear	3%
Drop	3%

Points lost — by shot

click a bar

Net

24%

Opp. winner3My forced error0My unforced error7

Opp. winnerMy forced errorMy unforced error

Points Koki Watanabe lost break down by the shot that ended them — led by net (24%), lift (19%) and smash (19%).

View data

Shot	Share
Net	24%
Lift	19%
Smash	19%
Block	14%
Brush	10%
Drop	10%
Clear	2%
Drive	2%

Rally outcome

unforced error50%
winner31%
forced error19%

How rallies involving Koki Watanabe ended: unforced error (50%), winner (31%) and forced error (19%).

View data

Outcome	Share
unforced error	50%
winner	31%
forced error	19%

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Players

Christo PopovKoki Watanabe