Defending champions Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi came through a stiff opening round test against Li Wen Mei and Zheng Yu at the VICTOR China Open 2019 today.

The women’s doubles second seeds felt the heat in the opening game from the attacking Chinese. After taking the first game, Li and Zheng continued in the same vein; Matsutomo and Takahashi took time to find their rhythm, but once they edged through in the second, the Japanese took hold of the reins of the match. Matsutomo was once again a dynamic presence at the front, and with Takahashi finding the sting in her smashes, the second seeds made it comfortably in the end: 16-21 21-18 21-8.

Nehwal Upset

Women’s singles eighth seed Saina Nehwal was knocked out in the opening round by Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan, 21-10 21-17.

It was Nehwal’s fourth early-round loss in a row, after the Thailand Open, the World Championships and the New Zealand Open.

However, Nehwal’s compatriot and new world champion Pusarla V Sindhu came through her opening round test against home hope Li Xue Rui in flying colours. Pusarla had her hands full in the opening game, with Li moving her around and nailing some crisp winners. However, after the Indian got the lead at the interval in the opening game, she steadily pulled ahead, and powered on in the second to finish the match in just 34 minutes: 21-18 21-12.

Top seed Tai Tzu Ying eased past Malaysia’s Soniia Cheah, 21-9 21-16, and will take on Japan’s Aya Ohori.

Other Results

• India’s Sai Praneeth was involved in the longest match of the session, with his opening round win over Thai Suppanyu Avihingsanon taking 72 minutes: 21-19 21-23 21-14.
• Korea’s Lee Yong Dae and Kim Gi Jung couldn’t capitalise on a close first game win, as they went down to Malaysia’s Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi, 20-22 21-13 21-13.
• Shi Yu Qi’s comeback from injury did not have an auspicious start, as he was blown off court in just 15 minutes by compatriot Lu Guang Zu, 21-5 21-9.

Talking Point

“I think the match was a bit ugly but nonetheless it’s a first step for me, I’m sure I’ll get better. There wasn’t any rally and the crowd was booing me. Right now I’m slowly getting back to being fully fit. My immediate goal is to get back my feeling of playing competitions and the tempo. The upcoming tournaments are important so I’ll have to give my best.” – Shi Yu Qi, after losing in 15 minutes to Lu Guang Zu.

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