The final day of qualifying at WTT Star Contender Muscat 2025 produced exactly what table tennis fans came for: upsets, momentum swings and high-pressure drama from the very first serve. On Tuesday at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, players battled for precious main draw spots, with several surprise names punching their tickets into the next stage.
In the Men’s Singles, the headline story belonged to Vincent Picard, who stunned many observers by knocking out top qualifying seed Lim Jonghoon in a thrilling five-game duel. After a strong start from Lim, Picard fought back in a match full of tight scorelines and momentum shifts, ultimately sealing victory 3–2 (8–11, 21–19, 12–10, 8–11, 13–11).
Picard had already built confidence earlier in the event, receiving a bye in Qualifying Round 1 before defeating Ali Alkhadrawi 3–0 on Monday evening. That momentum carried into his clash with the Korean favourite, where the Frenchman showed composure and resilience under pressure. His reward is a place in the main draw in Muscat, where he will face compatriot Flavien Coton in the Round of 64 — an all-French battle that promises plenty of entertainment.
France enjoyed further success in the qualifying rounds, as Joe Seyfried also produced a memorable performance. In another five-game thriller, Seyfried overcame Pang Koen 3–2 (4–11, 11–4, 11–9, 2–11, 11–7), earning his first-ever main draw appearance at a WTT Star Contender event. His next challenge will be another French showdown against Leo De Nodrest, giving France a strong presence in the early stages of the main draw.
Elsewhere in Men’s Singles, Kazuhiro Yoshimura underlined his quality with a commanding display. The World No.79 produced top-level table tennis in his final qualifying match, defeating Lev Katsman in straight games (11–5, 12–10, 11–5). His solid form and decisive performance mark him as a player to watch when the main draw begins.
There was also joy for Kim Minhyeok, who secured his place in Wednesday’s action with a hard-fought win over fifth qualifying seed Snehit Suravajjula. The Korean star prevailed 3–2 (11–4, 5–11, 11–7, 5–11, 11–8), handling the pressure well in a match that swung back and forth before being decided in the final game.
On the Women’s Singles side, second qualifying seed Ser Lin Qian safely booked her main draw ticket with a confident performance. The 19-year-old proved too strong for Karina Shiray, winning 3–0 (11–9, 11–4, 11–2) and showing the kind of control and consistency that make her a genuine threat in the next stage. Ser will now prepare for a main draw encounter against Swedish player Filippa Bergand, a test that will reveal how far her current level can take her in Muscat.
Top qualifying seed Lee Zion progressed directly to the main draw via a bye, shifting the spotlight to Tatiana Kukulkova, who had to work extremely hard to secure her place. Her duel with Mariia Tailakova turned into one of the tightest contests of the qualifying rounds. Despite nearly 150 ranking places separating the two, Tailakova pushed the favourite to the limit, but Kukulkova ultimately escaped with a 3–2 win (5–11, 11–6, 6–11, 11–8, 11–9). It was a reminder that rankings can narrow quickly when the stakes are high and a main draw spot is on the line.
With qualifying now complete, the focus at WTT Star Contender Muscat 2025 shifts fully to the main draw. Established stars, rising talents and surprise qualifiers will share the stage as the title race officially begins. For players like Picard, Seyfried, Ser Lin Qian and others who battled through a tense qualifying programme, the next challenge is to carry their momentum into Wednesday’s action and beyond.
As the 2025 season continues to build towards major ITTF and WTT events, performances in Muscat will play an important role in shaping confidence, rankings and storylines heading into the rest of the calendar.
