Fun fact: Tomokazu Harimoto, the guy who Fan Zhendong beat, is ethnically Chinese. His Chinese name is Zhang Zhihe. His parents immigrated to Japan from Sichuan.
I watched that match, and that Harimoto guy just gave me that Japanese character in a Chinese movie vibes. The kind who his superiors sent to terrorize / bully the defenseless chinese, but would then squeal pathetically when put in an arm lock by the Chinese hero.
That Harimoto guy gave this vibe the whole match, when he screams after winning a point, or his facial expression when grunting while hitting a return.
I thought to myself, no way he's going to win against Fan Zhendong.