Table tennis: The rise of subtle style and the cerebral art of defending

ESSEN - In the high-speed world of table tennis, where aggressive attacking play often dominates, a quieter revolution is taking place.

Some student-athletes at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 World University Games are showing that patience, precision and tactical finesse can be just as powerful.

Among them is Lea Lachenmayer (pictured above), a standout defender from Germany who is turning heads at the FISU Games with her cerebral and calculated style.

“I’ve been playing defence for about nine or 10 years,” Lachenmayer told the FISU Games News Service.

“I never had a good backhand. Then the coaches told me to change, and I’ve been playing defence and pimples ever since.”

Lachenmayer was an important piece of the puzzle in Germany’s women’s team victory over Republic of Korea, which secured their place in the quarter-finals.

“We prepared a bit for our opponents,” she said. “We thought that the Korean number one wouldn’t be able to play well against defence.”

“However, (it was) Korea’s number two (who) had problems against defence.”

Her game relies on distance, variation, and clever disruption.

“I love to run around a bit,” she said. “I like the movements forwards and backwards. When you play defence, you play further away from the table. I like to play balloon defence. I can work off my energy there.”

‘Every ball is different’

Lachenmayer’s playing style is as much about psychology as technique. “I like it when I can trick my opponents a little,” she said.

“I can do this by switching spin and using my forehand to win points. Every ball is different, but that’s exactly what I enjoy. I like it when I can outsmart my opponents a little.”

She is not alone in her approach. Agathe Avezou (FRA), also a defender, describes a similar journey.

“My coach convinced me to defend because I was way off the table,” she said. “I played well some metres away from the table. I liked it and I continued.”

Avezou finds joy in the mental game.

“You have to be far from the table, you have to be very patient,” she said. “It’s a different mentality, but I liked it right away. I’m very patient.”

Most players defend just on one side, often the backhand; not Avezou.

“I don’t like to attack,” she said. “I chose to defend on both sides and use variations to make the opponent make mistakes.”

Biding time and taking control

That balance of patience and precision is echoed by Tan Zhao Yun from Singapore.

“When I started playing table tennis, I was an attacker,” Tan said. “Then I switched to defensive, because my attacking was too slow. I decided to try defensive style of play.

“And I think it suits my personality as well, because I’m quite patient.”

Tan’s defensive mindset is also grounded in subtlety.

“I need to make sure to give more spin and variations, and also, like the placement of the ball, so that my opponent does not have the opportunity to attack hard,” she said.

When it comes to doubles, Tan understands the need to bring in other styles of play.

“Versus two attackers I cannot be too defensive,” she said. “Sometimes I need to find the opportunity to attack as well so that we have more control in the game.”

Lachenmayer, Avezou and Tan represent table tennis players who are redefining what it means to influence the game, using patience, anticipation and creativity.

The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 table tennis competition continues at the Messe Essen until Thursday. Grab your tickets here.

FGNS pw/kc/mb

Photo: © Kevin Voigt / Rhine-Ruhr 2025