Hiroyuki Endo, Ayaka Takahashi prove their mettle in Mixed Doubles event – US Open Update
Japan’s scratch pair Hiroyuki Endo-Ayaka Takahashi proved their class against Chung Jen Chen-Ya Lan Chang and locked the honour to be in the pre quarter-finals of Yonex OCBC US Open GPG on July 3, 2012.
Both Mixed Doubles teams remained in action only for 22 minutes as this first round match was concluded with 21-16 and 21-15 in just two games.
Hiroyuki Endo and Ayaka Takahashi, who are Men’s and Women’s Doubles experts respectively, forged laudable chemistry to seal a splendid straight-set victory.
Meanwhile, the experienced Taipei couple could not revive their lost form and crashed out of the event after facing a 2-0 defeat.
The Japanese campaigners set the foundation of their supremacy straight away in the opening game when they clinched vital match point with a notable difference.
In first half of the set, they took some time to read their rivals’ game but still managed to stay close in the start.
They kick-started their progress after 4-5 and gained a decent advantage with 9-6 total. They lost this rhythm just before the interval which resulted in tight margin of 11-10.
Later part of the game was full of sensation as at one stage Hiroyuki and Ayaka were enjoying the upper hand but then their competitors controlled the overall pace of rallies and levelled the score.
In third quarter of the set, Chung Jen and Ya Lan were trailing behind until 11-14 but then they added three continuous points to catch their rivals at 14-14.
However, they could not go with the same flow and allowed the opposing team to reinstate the dominance in final moments.
The Japanese duo claimed seven out of last eight points and won the first set with 21-16 score on the board.
Next game kept the audience glued to their chair in first half but it turned in to a dead contest after the one-minute break.
Both contenders snapped at each other’s heels in the beginning and remained toe-to-toe until 11-11 but then Hiroyuki Endo and Ayaka Takahashi changed the scenario. They made a difference with 17-12 total and then swept the table with decisive margin of 21-15.
Now they are going to meet relatively weak contestants Sutanto Wibowo-Panita Phongasavithas in second round of Grand Prix Gold event.
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