Crazy challenge. Winter: “There were times when I even hated table tennis, but now I love table tennis” Part 2

Sabine Winter

Sabine WINTER 　GERMANY

In November 2024, she switched the backhand side to Anti-spin rubber after being a hard-hitting player using inverted rubber on both sides. Just three months after changing her equipment and playing style, she finished third at the Europe Top 16 and steadily added more results in subsequent WTT events. Her world ranking, which had usually sat between 40th and 60th, surged into the 20s.

At the WTT Singapore Smash in February 2026, she defeated top-ranked players one after another, including world No. 4 Zhu Yuling (Macao) and world No. 7 Wang Yidi (China). Although she lost to Wang Manyu (world No. 2) in the Semi-final, she climbed to a career-high world ranking of No. 11 after the tournament.

It is extremely rare for a player over 30 to change playing style and become so successful on the world stage. What lay behind Sabine Winter’s decision? <April 2026>

PHOTO WTT

I’ve devoted much of my life to table tennis, experienced and learned many things. There were not only moments of joy, but also deep disappointment, yet all of it helped me grow as a person

Sabine Winter
Born September 27, 1992, in Germany. She started table tennis at age 6, but began training as a player around age 15 or 16. Third at the 2007 European Youth Championships, and a member of Germany’s team at the 2010 World Championships. Won the 2013 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open. She had been a topspin player using inverted rubber on both sides, but switched the backhand side to Anti-spin rubber. Three months later, she finished third at the Europe Top 16. As of April 6, 2026, she was ranked No. 9 in the world. She plays for TSV Dachau 1865 in the Bundesliga first division.

Hermann told me, “It’s a very brave decision, but with your mental strength and focus, you’ll definitely be able to do it,” and encouraged me

Winter, who made her debut for Germany at a young age, was known for her wide-ranging playing style and powerful forehand topspin from mid-distance. For that reason alone, everyone was astonished by her switch to Anti-spin rubber after turning 30.

Moreover, who would have predicted that Anti-spin rubber would suit her style so well and that she would master it enough to beat top Chinese players?

When Winter sought advice about switching to Anti-spin rubber, she turned to Hermann Mühlbach, the brother of her former Dobles partner, Katrin Mühlbach.

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●—Please tell us more about your episode with Hermann Mühlbach (Spin site).

W (Sabine Winter / hereafter W)　First, I contacted Hermann, who knows equipment best. I already knew him because his sister Katrin and I were friends since the youth national team. When I asked Hermann, “Would it be crazy to change to Anti at this age?” he encouraged me, saying, “It’s a very brave decision, but with your mental strength and focus, you’ll definitely be able to do it.”

After that, I spent five days with Hermann receiving lectures on the characteristics of Rubber and learning the techniques unique to Anti-spin rubber. Then I trained for a total of 10 days over another five days with Katrin and Carlos Műhback (an Anti user). To be honest, when I first started this training, I thought I would probably end up concluding, “There’s absolutely no way I can do this. I have no chance of seeing it through.” But those 10 days, once I actually committed to them, were truly enjoyable and turned into the conviction that “I can do this.” I began to feel that I might really be able to master it, and I decided, “I’ll take this challenge seriously.”

●—Didn’t the period immediately after the style change bring a lot of stress? Were there reactions from those around you, or opposition from your coach?