Akane Yamaguchi
Three-time world champion continued her dominance over India’s P.V. Sindhu to qualify for the women’s singles finals of the Australian Open badminton championships.
Yamaguchi carved out her eighth straight victory over her rival with a 22-20, 21-12 semi-final win and into her fourth consecutive final on the circuit.
The Japanese veteran had had a remarkable month-long surge that shows no signs of slowing. After lifting the Thailand Open four weeks ago, Yamaguchi made both the Singapore and Indonesian Open finals prior to her trip to Sydney.
She was, however, beaten by Korean superstar An Se-young in the last two final appearances.
She has been in impressive form here, without dropping a game all week to extend her unbeaten streak against Sindhudating back to 2022.
After surviving a close opening game, Yamaguchi tightened her grip on the contest with her trademark defensive excellence.
“My defence worked so I was able to effectively utilise that,” she said.
The 29-year-old also revealed a tactical adjustment that has paid dividends in recent weeks.
“Recently, I’ve been aiming for the body to induce errors. That has been working so I made use of the body shot.”
With another title opportunity awaiting, Yamaguchi is eager to continue her upward trajectory.
“Recently, my play has been improving and my results are gradually getting better, so I’m looking forward to playing another final tomorrow,” she said, adding: “Of course I’m tired but I don’t think my condition is bad either.”
Standing between Yamaguchi and the title is Thai youngster Pornpawee Chochuwong, who denied an all-Japanese final by overcoming 2017 champion Nozomi Okuhara 21-18 11-21 21-12 in 66 minutes.
The second seed will contest her first final since finishing runner-up at the Thailand Open in May last year and keeps alive Thailand’s quest for a maiden Australian Open women’s singles champion. The nation’s last finalist in the discipline was Nitchaon Jindapol in 2013.
“I just focused on my good points, and no matter what, I fight on court,” said Chochuwong.
“In the last few months, maybe my confidence wasn’t quite there because I was just coming back from injury. Today, I had more belief in my body and that helped me take the win.
“I wanted to fight because everyone knows Nozomi is a world champion. She never gives up, so I had to do the same.”
In men’s singles, unheralded Dong Tianyao is one match from completing a fairytale week. The Chinese youngster defeated Indonesian Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah 21-19 9-21 21-18 to set up a final against third seed Alwi Farhan.
Alwi, the reigning SEA Games champion defeated Hong Kong’s Jason Gunawan 21-11, 17-21, 21-9 in his semi-finals.
Top ranked mixed doubles pair pf Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping of China were pushed by Americans Presley Smith-Jennie Gai to three games before reaching their first final since January’s Malaysia Open.
China are assured of the title as they will take one compatriots Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui in the final.
In the women’s doubles, another Chinese duo Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian ended the reign of defending champions Rachel Allessya Rose-Febi Setianingrum of Indonesia. They face last year’s runners-up Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilysa Trias Puspitasari, also from Indonesia.
It will be the season’s first men’s doubles title bout for Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani after the Indonesians came through a 21-18 19-21 23-21 thriller against Chen Cheng Kuan-Liu Kuang Heng of Chinese Taipei.
They play China’s Chen Boyang-Liu Yi, who upset second seeded teammates Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang 21-12, 21-18 in their semi-finals.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Alwi Farhan (Ina) bt Jason Gunawan (Hkg) 21-11, 17-21, 21-9; Dong Tianyao (Chn) bt Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah (Ina) 21-19, 9-21, 21-18
Men’s doubles: Chen Boyang-Liu Yi (Chn) bt Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang (Chn) 21-12, 21-18; Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani (Ina) 21-18, 19-21, 22-21
Women’s singles: Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) bt Nozmi Okuhara (Jpn) 21-8, 11-21, 21-12; Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) bt P.V. Sindhu (Ind) 22-20, 21-12
Women’s doubles: Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilysa Trias Puspitasari (Ina) bt Hsu Yin-Hui-Lin Jhih Yun (Tpe) 15-21, 21-14, 21-10; Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian (Chn) bt Rachel Allessya Rose-Febi Setianingrum (Ina) 21-16, 20-22, 21-16
Mixed doubles: Guo Xinwa-Chen Fanghui (Chn) bt Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraoarat (Tha) 21-9, 19-21, 21-17; Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Presley Smith-JGai (USA) 21-16, 18-21, 21-7
