Lee Chong Wei Crowned His Fifth YONEX OPEN JAPAN Title

The men’s singles final was a characteristically heated and smash-heavy match between YONEX players Lee Chong Wei (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE 2, SHB01LTD) and Hu Yun (NANORAY 750, SHBF1NLTD). Yun opened with a smash that had the shuttle kissing the net, and from then on Lee Chong Wei started on his warpath. Smashing straight into his opponent’s body, Chong Wei was up 2-0. After that, it was a series of smashes and runs to the net by Chong Wei, snatching up a 6-1 lead. Yun tried to get ahead with smashes and net shots, but he was no match for Chong Wei’s overwhelming smashes, command of the court, and nearly flawless defense. As the match came to a close, Chong Wei’s accuracy only got sharper increasing Yun’s errors.



The game ended with Yun shooting into the net, and Chong Wei winning, 21-14.

The second game opened with Yun closing in with smashes, but with persistent unforced errors, leading 2-0. However, Chong Wei tenaciously shot at Yun’s forehand side, leaving Yun lost. Despite Chong Wei losing the lead 10-12, he quickly closed in on Yun. With Yun’s unforced errors ever persistent, the match came to 20-12 in no time. Chong Wei closed the match with a brilliant smash to his opponent’s forehand, scoring 11 consecutive points. “I want to stay in top form and continue winning. I am also very grateful to the passionate Malaysian fans who came to cheer me on,” said Chong Wei.

Ayaka Takahashi opened the all-Japanese final with her brilliant smash, dominating the first game with her partner Misaki Matsutomo. Grabbing a 5-0 lead right from the start, the first game transformed into an exchange of hard-hits and fast rallies. Reika Kakiiwa hit the shuttle out right at the end, with Ayaka/Misaki taking the first game, 21-13. Ayaka opened game two with a minor slip on the court, allowing Miyuki/Reika one point, but Misaki came in with some keen net play, taking the pair to a 1-1 game. Miyuki/Reika took to the front of the court, attacking with a series of fierce smashes, taking the lead 6-3. However, Miyuki/Reika’s performance was heavy with unforced errors, and Misaki came in with serious and consistent pressure in her net play, taking the lead for her and Ayaka, 17-8.

With Ayaka/Misaki snagging the match point 20-14, Miyuki/Reika were determined, refusing to submit to defeat. However, it was all over after Miyuki flubbed a reception off of Ayaka’s smash, sending the shuttle into the net. “We’re so happy to be the first Japanese women’s doubles pair to win at this tournament. We finally achieved our goal of getting a Superseries title,” commented Misaki. “We’re so happy we achieved our goal in our homeland. Our next goal is to get the World Championships title.”

The men’s doubles final proved to be a great battle between attackers and defenders. Indonesia’s offensive experts and YONEX players, Mohammad Ahsan (NANORAY 900, SHB87LTD)/Hendra Setiawan (NANORAY 900, SHBF1NLTD), faced off against Korea’s defensive experts, Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong, in a match that made everyone’s heart skip a beat. However, the first set proved to be a fairly one-sided win for the Korean pair, with the Indonesian pair crumbling under the pressure of Lee/ Yoo’s ironclad defense. The first set ended with Lee/Yoo victorious, 21-12.

Lead by the Korean pair at the beginning of the second set at 0-2, the Indonesian pair leveled things out to 2-2 with their receptions and Mohammad’s intense pressure. Mohammad and Hendra managed to grasp the lead in the second game and reached game point 20-18. However, the Indonesian pair’s performance grew heavy with errors once more, and the Korean pair caught up to them at 20-20. The match came down to a heated back-and-forth between the two pairs, both catching up to each other at every turn. In an arena teeming with anxiousness and excitement, every point taken was complimented with screams from the audience. The match ended with the Korean pair taking the match, 21-12 26-24, but Mohammad/ Hendra nevertheless managed to charm the audience with their incredible speed and relays.

Michael Fuchs (VOLTRIC 80)/Birgit Michels (NANORAY 700FX) exhibited a great performance in this year’s Yonex Open Japan. They defeated Liu Cheng/Bao Yixin in round 2, 21-18 23-25 21-19 and beat Ko Sung Hyun/Kim Ha Na in straight sets 21-12 22-20 in the quarterfinal. They became runners-up in this year’s Yonex Open Japan, and impressed the crowd with their passionate plays.

Tournament Result: Finals

Men’s singles

[1]Lee Chong Wei (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE 2, SHB01LTD)(MAS) def. [8]Hu Yun (NANORAY 750, SHBF1NLTD)(HKG) 21-14 21-12

Women’s Singles

[1]Li Xuerui (CHN) def. [6]Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) 21-16 21-6

Men’s Doubles

[5]Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong (KOR) def. [1]Mohammad Ahsan (NANORAY 900, SHB87LTD)/Hendra Setiawan (NANORAY 900, SHBF1NLTD)(INA) 21-12 26-24

Women’s Doubles

[3]Ayaka Takahashi /Misaki Matsutomo (JPN) def. [4]Reika Kakiiwa /Miyuki Maeda (JPN) 21-13 21-17

Mixed Doubles

[1]Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei (CHN) def. [8]Michael Fuchs (VOLTRIC 80)/Birgit Michels (NANORAY 700FX)(GER) 21-12 21-16