2012 Vietnam Open: A disappointing outing for Shizuka Matsuo, Mami Naito in Women’s Doubles event
Women’s Doubles experts Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito could not continue their successful run in Yonex Sunrise Vietnam Open GP and faced a woeful exit after losing pre quarter-final tussle on August 23, 2012.
The top seeded pair, who also holds eleventh spot in the world rankings, failed to revive their lost form and surrendered after a futile exercise of 70 minutes.
Meanwhile, the lower ranked but spirited team Shimozaki Aya-Emi Moue earned the right to be in the quarter-finals after registering favourable margin of 14-21, 21-18 and 23-21.
Though, they were bit confused in the opening game which cost them a vital match point but they came back from behind and locked the honour.
In first set, the prime Japanese campaigners Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito proved themselves superior technically and tactically as they enthralled their rivals with a notable lead of seven points.
They launched a brisk attack and pushed the opposing team on the back-foot with a few uninterrupted rallies. Their power packed strokes confined Shimozaki-Emi in the rear court and helped them pocket the opening set with a 21-14 score on the board.
However, Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito could not go with the same flow in the following games and disappointed their spectators by putting on a below par performance.
First sign of trouble came when their sluggishness cost them a few valuable points in a row. They made every effort to reinstate their dominance but their challengers’ determination was too much for them.
The twosome of Shimozaki and Emi proved tough nut to crack and brought the contest to the right balance by prevailing in a crucial segment of the battle.
They put their higher ranked competitors under pressure all the way to final moments and tip the scale in their favour with a decisive figure of 21-18.
Third set turned out to be the best part of the tussle as both teams put all they had to claim a spot in the round of eight. They chased each other all the way to game point situation and made the decider a memorable contest.
Shimozaki and Emi, who were underrated earlier in this tournament, registered their class by sending Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito packing with a favourable result of 23-21.
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