Vladimir SIDORENKO: “What could we have done in this situation?”

Featured in Table Tennis Kingdom, December 2026 issue, GLOBAL ACES: “Why Do They Keep Fighting?”

Vladimir SIDORENKO RUSSIA
Vladimir SIDORENKO [Russia]

Vladimir SIDORENKO
Born April 7, 2002, from Tomsk, Russia. Winner of the 2020 European Youth Championships U21, the 2021 World Youth Championships U19, and the 2025 World University Games. Ranked No. 19 in the world (as of October 14)
Photo Manabu Nakagawa

“To survive this situation, all I can do is believe in the future and in myself.”

At the US Smash in July 2026, Vladimir SIDORENKO, then ranked No. 37 in the world, pulled off a major surprise by knocking out one strong opponent after another and reaching the Final. His journey into table tennis goes back to childhood. In Tomsk, in Russia’s Siberian Federal District, he was taken to evening practice by his father, who worked in the oil industry and at a small table tennis federation, and it was there that a coach noticed him.

Looking back on those days, he says, “I think everything I’ve achieved is thanks to my family. My family wanted me to get better at table tennis, but they also wanted me to do well in school.” Until he was 16, he put school first, and after moving to Saint Petersburg he began his full-time professional career. His victory in the cadet division at the 2016 European Youth Championships earned him his father’s approval to pursue life as a professional.

Thanks in part to his father’s efforts, he went to the German powerhouse Ochsenhausen and played at the player development institution Master College. But, as he says, “Life in Germany was a bit tough. Basically, I spent most of my time alone. I had moved from a huge city with more than 7 million people to a town of just 8,000, so it was hard to adapt, and the only person I could speak Russian with was coach Dmitry MAZUNOV.” Even at a young age, he faced loneliness and the barriers of a new environment. After that, he moved from TTC Neu-Ulm to GV Hennebont in France.

The situation changed dramatically in 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began and severe international sanctions were imposed on Russian sports players. “It was a difficult time for Russian sports players, but what could we have done in this situation? We didn’t do anything, and we couldn’t change anything. So my coach, my family, everyone kept telling me: ‘Just keep moving forward, keep believing in yourself, and keep training.’” Even amid his struggles, he kept looking ahead.

By playing more than 25 matches in a season at Hennebont and maintaining a high level, he says, “Germany was great too, but in Hennebont, France, I found a ‘family.’ They gave me everything. They paid me well, gave me the chance to play in a very high-level league, and provided a place to sleep and a place to train. That’s one of the reasons I’m in such good form right now.” He expresses deep gratitude to the club and staff.

Sidorenko is known for his soft two-winged play and ball touch from mid-distance

He kept repeating “Discipline.” “What could we have done in this situation?”

“To survive this situation, it’s all about belief. It’s not a matter of motivation; what matters is ‘self-control’ and ‘discipline.’ You have to believe in the future and in yourself.” The word “discipline” carries real weight in his mouth. There is a boundary between players continuing table tennis in peaceful countries and Sidorenko, whose homeland is at war, and before that line he murmurs, “discipline.”

From 2025, he began competing seriously in WTT tournaments as well, building up his results. Behind that was a strong desire to prove himself: “I want to show what I’ve been working on for the past three and a half years. First of all, I have to prove the results of how I’ve been going to the practice hall every day.”

Then came the US Smash in July 2026, where he beat HARIMOTO Tomokazu and Truls MOREGARD of Sweden, among others, on his way to a remarkable run. But before that, he had gone through a string of bitter matches against top overseas players, losing the final point in close contests.

“Before the tournament in the United States, I spoke with a sports psychologist about relaxing more. A Grand Smash is the biggest event in table tennis, where all the table tennis stars gather, so the pressure is enormous,” he reveals of the mental support he received. Reflecting on the actual matches, he says humbly, “In a tournament where you face excellent players like Truls MOREGARD, Hiroto SHINOZUKA, and Harimoto, I feel you can’t win without luck. If you want to win, you need even a little bit of luck. Then the momentum can change.” While analyzing the factors behind his success, he also said, “My play itself was good too. My Forehand, Backhand, and all my techniques were working well,” showing his satisfaction that thorough preparation paid off.

Now that he has moved into the top tier of the world, Sidorenko is determined: “What I need to do next is find a way to maintain this level and train even more. From here on, every player and coach will analyze my play even more thoroughly and come up with countermeasures. That’s exactly why I have to prepare for that and train harder than ever before.”

Though buffeted by war and politics, Sidorenko continues his unwavering effort with a pure passion for table tennis, and he repeated once more at the end: “I’ll keep working hard. I’ll keep training. In any sport, practice is what makes the difference in strength.”