Viktor Axelsen (ARCSABER 11, SHB-87EX) is into his fourth career Superseries final and third Superseries final for the season at this year’s YONEX OPEN JAPAN. The World No. 6 triumphed over Taiwanese Chou Tien Chen (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE, SHB02LTD) in straight games at 21-19 21-13. The young Dane was trailing at the start of the first game, but began to catch up midway, narrowly seizing the opening game. The second game saw Viktor trailing once again, but after going even at 7-7, he harnessed the lead, carrying it with him until the end.
Viktor’s opponent in the final will be none other than Lin Dan (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE Ⅱ LD, SHBSC6LDEX), who is into his first YONEX OPEN JAPAN final in five years, beating former Top 10 shuttler Tommy Sugiarto (VOLTRIC 80 E-tune), who has made an impressive run at this tournament himself, reaching his first Superseries semifinal since the YONEX SUNRISE India Open in April of this year. The first game proved to be a battle for superiority, both shuttlers exchanging one-point leads until 14-14, where Lin Dan took control to close out the game. Despite Tommy grabbing the first point in game 2, Lin Dan quickly secured the lead and carried it until the end despite Tommy’s best efforts to catch up. Lin Dan made it into the final with a score of 21-17 21-17.
Local hero Akane Yamaguchi (VOLTRIC 70 E-tune) is into her second YONEX OPEN JAPAN final after a narrow victory over Chinese World No. 7 Wang Shixian. After splitting two games, the match’s final game saw both shuttlers fervent to book their own place in the final. After leading for a majority of the final game, it was looking as if Shixian would take the match. However, with the enthusiastic cheers of Japanese fans backing her up, Akane managed to fend off match point from an 18-20 deficit, and from there the match became a contest to secure the crucial two-point lead to seal victory. After exchanging one-point leads, it was the 18-year-old shuttler who clutched victory with a sizzling cross smash. With the infectious cheers of fans ringing throughout the stadium, the final score came to 21-12 15-21 26-24 after nearly 90 minutes of play.
Danish Christinna Pedersen (NANORAY 800, SHB-02LX) is into two finals this year in both women’s and mixed doubles. Paired with Kamilla Rytter Juhl (NANORAY 900, SHB87LTD) the two won 21-17 21-16 over Japanese pair Shizuka Matsuo (VOLTRIC 80)/Mami Naito (NANORAY 900). Partnered with Joachim Fischer Nielsen in mixed doubles, the two grabbed a straight win over Korean pair Kim Gi Jung and Shin Seung Chan at 21-19 21-16.
YONEX OPEN JAPAN 2015 Results
Men’s Singles Semifinal
[5] Lin Dan (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE Ⅱ LD, SHBSC6LDEX)(CHN) def. Tommy Sugiarto (VOLTRIC 80 E-tune)(INA) 21-17 21-17
[7] Viktor Axelsen (ARCSABER 11, SHB-87EX)(DEN) def. [6] Chou Tien Chen (VOLTRIC Z-FORCE, SHB02LTD)(TPE) 21-19 21-13
Women’s Singles Semifinal
Akane Yamaguchi (VOLTRIC 70 E-tune)(JPN) def. [7] Wang Shixian (CHN) 21-12 15-21 26-24
Men’s Doubles Semifinal
[5] Fu Haifeng/Zhang Nan (CHN) def. [6] Kenichi Hayakawa (DUORA 10)/Hiroyuki Endo (JPN) 21-15 21-14
Women’s Doubles Semifinal
[4] Kamilla Rytter Juhl (NANORAY 900, SHB87LTD)/Christinna Pedersen(NANORAY 800, SHB-02LX)(DEN) def. Shizuka Matsuo (VOLTRIC 80)/Mami Naito (NANORAY 900)(JPN) 21-17 21-16
Mixed Doubles Semifinal
[5] Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen(NANORAY 800, SHB-02LX)(DEN) def. Kim Gi Jung/Shin Seung Chan (KOR) 21-19 21-16