Men's singles · 2026-05-03

Shi Yu Qi vs Christo Popov — Thomas Cup 2026, F

Shi Yu Qi won 2–1

AI-powered rally-by-rally match analysis.

Shi Yu Qi controlled the match despite Popov's early aggression, taking the opener 21-16 after recovering from a 6-0 deficit and winning the decisive third game 20-17. The second game slipped away when Popov mounted a 4-shot run from 12-12 to seize momentum, but Shi regrouped in game three with a decisive 5-shot burst from 6-8 that proved the difference. Both players leaned heavily on smashes as their primary weapon, yet the match remained competitive throughout with four lead changes in game two and three in the decider, suggesting Popov stayed within striking distance until the final points.

Point progression

Shi Yu QiChristo Popov

0510152021

Rally length

Avg rally — by shots

13.1shots

Avg rally — by time

15.1sec

Rallies by length (shots)

1–2

3–4

5–8

9–14

15–20

21+

Shot patterns

Most common 3-shot runs

1.B1Forehand Net Cross→A1Backhand Lift Cross→B1Forehand Drop Straight
Happened 7× out of 111 rallies
2.B1Backhand Net Straight→A1Backhand Spin Net Straight→B1Backhand Lift Cross
Happened 6× out of 111 rallies
3.B1Forehand Lift Cross→A1Around-the-Head Smash Straight→B1Backhand Block Straight
Happened 6× out of 111 rallies
4.A1Backhand Lift Cross→B1Forehand Drop Cross→A1Backhand Net Straight
Happened 5× out of 111 rallies
5.A1Backhand Lift Cross→B1Forehand Smash Straight→A1Forehand Block Straight
Happened 5× out of 111 rallies

Most common 5-shot runs

1.A1Short Middle→B1Forehand Net Cross→A1Backhand Spin Net Straight→B1Backhand Spin Net Straight→A1Backhand Brush Cross
Happened 2× out of 111 rallies
2.A1Backhand Lift Cross→B1Forehand Drop Cross→A1Backhand Net Straight→B1Backhand Spin Net Straight→A1Backhand Lift Middle
Happened 2× out of 111 rallies
3.A1Forehand Clear Cross→B1Around-the-Head Half Smash Straight→A1Backhand Block Cross→B1Forehand Lift Straight→A1Forehand Drop Straight
Happened 2× out of 111 rallies
4.A1Forehand Cut Slice Cross→B1Backhand Net Straight→A1Backhand Lift Cross→B1Forehand Smash Straight→A1Forehand Block Straight
Happened 2× out of 111 rallies
5.B1Backhand Lift Cross→A1Forehand Cut Slice Cross→B1Backhand Net Straight→A1Backhand Lift Cross→B1Forehand Smash Straight
Happened 2× out of 111 rallies

Who did what

Most winners

Shi Yu Qi

Most errors forced

Shi Yu Qi

Most unforced errors

Shi Yu Qi

By player

Shi Yu Qi

742 shots

Winners 30Forced 11Unforced 27

Most-used shots

24%

Lift

24%

Net

14%

Block

10%

Drop

10%

Smash

Serve

Points won — by shot

Smash

47%

My winner18Forced opp. error9Drew opp. unforced0

Smash

Lift

Net

Brush

Kill

Drive

Drop

Clear

My winnerForced opp. errorDrew opp. unforced

Points lost — by shot

Smash

33%

Opp. winner13My forced error0My unforced error5

Smash

Block

Lift

Net

Drop

Clear

Drive

Brush

Opp. winnerMy forced errorMy unforced error

Rally outcome

winner43%
unforced error39%
forced error18%

Christo Popov

730 shots

Winners 18Forced 9Unforced 17

Most-used shots

26%

Net

23%

Lift

14%

Drop

13%

Block

Smash

Serve

Points won — by shot

Smash

33%

My winner13Forced opp. error5Drew opp. unforced0

Smash

Lift

Net

Drive

Drop

Block

Brush

Clear

My winnerForced opp. errorDrew opp. unforced

Points lost — by shot

Smash

33%

Opp. winner18My forced error0My unforced error1

Smash

Block

Lift

Drop

Brush

Clear

Kill

Net

Opp. winnerMy forced errorMy unforced error

Rally outcome

winner43%
unforced error39%
forced error18%

Players

Shi Yu Qi Christo Popov