Xu Xin: the left-handed penhold showman

Xu Xin is one of those players who gets the crowd out of their seats. Left-handed, using the penhold grip and with incredible footwork, he became famous for spectacular points, often played far from the table, and for a style that almost nobody uses at the top anymore. He was also a pillar of the Chinese team for more than a decade.

This page sums up Xu Xin's career, his titles, his playing style and what makes him so different.

Who is Xu Xin

Xu Xin was born on January 8, 1990, in Xuzhou, in China's Jiangsu province. He is left-handed and plays with the penhold grip, holding the paddle the way you would hold a pen. During his career he also adopted the reverse penhold backhand, using the back side of the paddle, which made the penhold style much more complete.

He first reached world No. 1 in January 2013 and returned to the top in 2019, finishing that year in first place. Fans call him "The Cloudwalker" for his light, quick movement.

Xu Xin's titles

Xu Xin never won the World Championships or Olympic singles. His generation had Ma Long, Zhang Jike and Fan Zhendong, and the internal competition in China was brutal. Even so, he was essential in doubles and team events.

The penhold grip

Today almost every elite player uses the shakehand grip. Xu Xin is one of the last big names with the penhold, alongside legends such as Wang Hao and Ma Lin. Penhold favors the forehand and the short game over the table, but it demands a lot of movement, because the traditional penhold backhand is more limited. The difference is explained in penhold grip.

Playing style

Xu Xin's game stands out for:

• A dominant forehand: he tries to use his forehand on most balls, covering much of the table with his feet.
• Footwork among the best the sport has seen.
• Loops from far back, with balls that curve wildly and end up in highlight reels.
• Heavy-spin serves with varied placement.
• Creativity, with improvised shots that earned him a reputation as a showman.

Being left-handed makes it even harder for opponents, because the angles are reversed. See tips in how to play against a lefty.

Doubles and team events

Xu Xin was one of the best doubles players of his generation. He won world doubles titles with different partners and mixed doubles in 2015 and 2019. At Tokyo 2020, he played the first Olympic mixed doubles event ever with Liu Shiwen and took silver after losing the final to Japan's Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito. At the same Games he won his second Olympic team gold.

After Tokyo

After Tokyo 2020, Xu Xin showed up much less on the international tour. He also took on the role of vice president of the Asian Table Tennis Union and, in 2025, still played China's National Games for the Shanghai team. To meet other Chinese greats, read the greatest table tennis players of all time.

Frequently asked questions