On day 3 all eyes were on the second-round meetup between Lin Dan (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE Ⅱ LD, SHBSC6LDEX) and Lee Chong Wei (DUORA 10, New Shoes). The two rivals played evenly in the first game, with Lin Dan getting the edge over the Malaysian shuttler right at the end. The second game saw the Chinese take control, closing out the match in an unexpectedly swift manner at 21-17 21-10. Viktor Axelsen (ARCSABER 11, SHB-87EX) faced off against compatriot Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, securing the first game with little trouble, carrying the lead until the end from 3-3. His opponent expressed more tenacity in the second game in an attempt to force a third, but Viktor refused him an opportunity to do so, grabbing three consecutive points from 18-18 to advance to the quarterfinal.
Mohammad Ahsan (NANORAY 900, SHB-75EX) and Hendra Setiawan (NANORAY 900, SHB-75EX) exhibited their trademark brand of quick and fierce badminton against the towering Russian pair of Vladimir Ivanov (ARCSABER 11, SHB87LTD) and Ivan Sozonov (VOLTRIC 80 E-tune, SHBF1NLTD). Both pairs played neck-and-neck in game 1, with the Russian pair managing to pull off a win right at the end. While fortune smiled on the Indonesian pair in game 2, the final game moved back into the direction of the match’s opening act. The Russian pair began by leading, but the 2015 World Champions managed to get ahead half-way through. However, Vladimir and Ivan obviously had the advantage when it came to height, attempting to regain the lead time and time again. That would not stop Mohammad and Hendra, as they started to dump pressure on their opponents, forcing them into errors during the final game’s second half. The Indonesians advanced when their Russian opponents smacked the shuttle out of the court, winning at 19-21, 21-15, 21-18.
In women’s doubles, another Indonesian team made their way into the quarterfinals. Greysia Polii (NANORAY 900, SHB-75EX)/Nitya Krishinda Maheswari (NANORAY GlanZ, SHBF1NMX) triumphed over Korean Eom Hye Won and Kim Ha Na in straight games at 22-20 21-15. While the score for the opening game was tight, the Indonesian pair were lead only once, and only by one point. The second game opened with the Korean pair leading, but the Indonesian Asian Games champions sized the lead from 6-6, and would not let it go until the end.
YONEX OPEN JAPAN 2015 Results
Men’s Singles Round 2
[5] Lin Dan (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE Ⅱ LD, SHBSC6LDEX)(CHN) def. [Q] Lee Chong Wei (DUORA 10, New Shoes)(MAS) 21-17 21-10
Tommy Sugiarto (VOLTRIC 80 E-tune)(INA) def. [4] Kento Momota (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE Ⅱ, SHB02LTD)(JPN) 16-21 21-13 21-19
[6] Chou Tien Chen (VOLTRIC 70 E-tune, SHB02LTD)(TPE) def. Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka (INA) 21-13 17-21 21-16
[7] Viktor Axelsen (ARCSABER 11, SHB-87EX) (DEN) def. Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (DEN) 21-10 21-18
Women’s Singles Round 2
[1] Carolina Marin (NANORAY Z-SPEED, SHB-02LX) (ESP) def. Sayaka Takahashi (NANORAY 900)(JPN) 21-17 15-21 21-12
[3] Li Xuerui (CHN) def. Kaori Imabeppu (VOLTRIC 70 E-tune)(JPN) 21-15 23-21
Akane Yamaguchi (VOLTRIC 70 E-tune)(JPN) def. Beiwen Zhang (USA) 21-11 21-15
Nozomi Okuhara (JPN) def. [5] Ratchanok Intanon (VOLTRIC 70 E-tune, SHB-02LX)(THA) 15-21 21-13 21-3
Minatsu Mitani (ARCSABER 9FL)(JPN) def. [2] Saina Nehwal (NANORAY 900, SHB02LTD)(IND) 21-13 21-16
Men’s Doubles Round 2
[3] Mohammad Ahsan (NANORAY 900, SHB-75EX)/Hendra Setiawan (NANORAY 900, SHB-75EX)(INA) def. Vladimir Ivanov (ARCSABER 11, SHB87LTD)/Ivan Sozonov (VOLTRIC 80 E-tune, SHBF1NLTD)(RUS) 19-21 21-15 21-18
[6] Kenichi Hayakawa (DUORA 10)/Hiroyuki Endo def. [Q] Puavaranukroh Dechapol/Kedren Kittinupong 21-12 21-14
Gi Jung Kim/Kim Sa Rang (KOR) def. [2] Mathias Boe (ARCSABER 11, SHBSC6iEX)/Carsten Mogensen (ARCSABER 11, SHB87LTD)(DEN) 18-21 21-18 21-16
Women’s Doubles Round 2
[4] Kamilla Rytter Juhl (NANORAY 900, SHB87LTD)/Christinna Pedersen(NANORAY 800, SHB-02LX)(DEN) def. [Q] Rira Kawashima/Saori Ozaki (JPN) 21-12 21-15
[6] Greysia Polii (NANORAY 900, SHB-75EX)/Nitya Krishinda Maheswari (NANORAY GlanZ, SHBF1NMX)(INA) def. Eom Hye Won/Kim Ha Na (KOR) 22-20 21-15
Mixed Doubles Round 2
[7] Chris Adcock (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE Ⅱ, SHB-02MX)/Gabrielle Adcock (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE Ⅱ, SHB-02LX)(ENG) def. Kenichi Hayakawa (DUORA 10)/Misaki Matsutomo (JPN) 11-7 Ret.
[5] Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen (NANORAY 800, SHB-02LX)(DEN) def. Lee Yong Dae/Lee So Hee (KOR) 25-23 21-16