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About Fan Zhendong
The only Super Golden Grand Slam winner - personal profile and technical style
Chinese Name
Fan Zhendong
English Name
Fan Zhendong
Date of Birth
01/22/1997
Place of Birth
Guangzhou
Sport
Table Tennis
Position
Men's Singles
Play Style
Right-handed shakehand grip, offensive; inverted rubber on both sides
Career Start
02/2012
In May 2026, during the Champions League semifinal stage, he switched his forehand to Z03 (the change happened roughly 48 hours before the Champions League final). He then used it continuously through the Champions League semifinal/final and the Bundesliga semifinal/final, leading his team to a treble of the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League and being voted season MVP; his Saarbrücken career thus came to a close. The backhand remained Dignics 09C.
Known for explosive power, placement control and backhand flick. Maintained high-intensity schedule and stable win rate for consecutive years.
National System
Shanghai Team
05/2022–present
Officially registered with Shanghai in May 2022 (Shanghai absorbed the Bayi players, coordinated by Wang Liqin); led Shanghai to three straight National Championships men's team titles (2022-2024).
Guangdong Team
09/2021–09/2021
Represented Guangdong at the 2021 National Games; rallied past Ma Long to end a 24-year men's team title drought and also took singles gold.
Bayi (PLA) Team
2008–10/2020
Selected by Bayi at age 11; the team was disbanded in Oct 2020 as part of military sports reform.
Weilun Sports School
2006–2008
Guangzhou Weilun Sports School; trained under coach Zhang Min and others, laying the foundation for Bayi selection.
National Team
National Team I
10/2012–present
Reached the last eight at the 2012 National Championships (beating Wang Liqin) to earn a place in National Team I at 15 years 9 months; mainstay from 2013.
National Team II (camp)
12/2011–02/2012
Joined the national camp in Dec 2011; topped the second-team round-robin to stand out.
Pro League
Borussia Düsseldorf
07/2026–present
Bundesliga (present); succeeded the retired Timo Boll as the club's marquee signing; scored twice on his Aug debut.
1. FC Saarbrücken
06/2025–07/2026
Bundesliga; led the team to a historic treble (league, German Cup, Champions League) and was voted Season MVP.
Shanghai Real Estate Group
2022–2025
China Super League; voted Men's MVP in 2022, led Shanghai for four straight seasons.
Shantou Mingrun
2021–2021
China Super League; joined in Sep 2021, finished third in men's team.
Sichuan Changhong
2020–2020
China Super League; first league season after Bayi disbanded — joined in Dec 2020 on a temporary squad.
Bayi Dashang
2013–2018
China Super League; led the team to the 2016 title after a 15-year gap and was voted Best Male Player.
MILESTONES
Key moments of Fan Zhendong's career in chronological order.
On 20 August 2026, Fan Zhendong attended the Düsseldorf table tennis club's 2026/27 season launch. The Mayor of Düsseldorf awarded him a special honor, and he signed the city's Golden Book. The Golden Book is a high official civic honor in Germany, reserved for figures of special significance to the city — a rare and distinguished municipal tribute.
Officially joined Düsseldorf for his second overseas season
Won with 94% of the fan vote — first Chinese player to earn the award
Helped Saarbrücken complete the German Cup + CL + Bundesliga treble; named Finals MVP
Won the Champions League with Saarbrücken — second overseas title
Led Saarbrücken to the title, earning his first overseas trophy and MVP
Second player after Ma Long to retain the National Games singles crown
Began his overseas career
The only player ever to hold every top singles title
Won the Paris Olympics, becoming the 11th Grand Slam player in table tennis history (over 2,862 days)
Represents Shanghai in national competitions
Made history at the Singapore Smash
Swept Möregårdh 4-0 at the Houston Worlds
Joined Guangdong after the Bayi team was disbanded
Reached men's singles world No. 1 at age 21 — youngest men's world No. 1 of the new century
Won the World Cup, becoming the youngest World Cup champion ever (age 19)
Won the Nanjing Youth Olympics, becoming a youth Grand Slam player
Won the Polish Open at 16 years, 292 days
First world-level competition; won singles, team, and mixed doubles titles
At 15, first entered the official ITTF men's singles rankings at No. 139
Became the youngest member of the national team at age 15