Hiroyuki Saeki, Misaki Matsutomo advance into Mixed Doubles quarter-finals of Canada Open 2012
Japan’s prime Mixed Doubles team Hiroyuki Saeki-Misaki Matsutomo intercepted Roman Zirnwald-Elisabeth Baldauf to leap forward into quarter-finals of Yonex Canada Open on July 12, 2012.
This epic 42-minute tussle prolonged to three exhausting sets before getting resolved with 10-21, 21-17 and 21-16.
The victorious Japanese duo played with great precision against higher ranked opponents and registered a splendid win despite of going down in first segment of the match.
Meanwhile, the second seeded pair surrendered disgracefully despite having better chances in this crucial match.
Roman Zirnwald and Elisabeth Baldauf earned opening match point on merit as they finished first set with a significant lead in the final result.
Their coordination was superb and they stayed focused from the very first stroke to last one.
They unleashed flurry of masterly crafted strokes straight away in the beginning and ended opening part of the set with an indomitable total of 11-1.
The Austrians did not lose this pace and mounted pressure with a 16-6 score on the board. Their challengers strived hard to lift this burden but they had to kneel down after reading 10-21 margin.
However, the story was different in very next game as Hiroyuki and Misaki revived their lost chemistry to avoid a straight-set defeat.
This time they did not waste time and gained a quick advantage with five consecutive points. They lost focus for short period of time but still managed to end the first half with favourable figure of 11-9.
After the interval, both contenders remained toe-to-toe until third quarter but then the Japanese campaigners served notice of supremacy in the final moments of the set.
They started making a difference after 14-13 and clinched seven out of last 11 points in 21-17 total.
There was lot of sensation in the decider as at one stage the Austrian shuttlers were in strong position but then Hiroyuki and Misaki stepped forward and locked the honour.
In the first half, Roman and Elisabeth were enjoying the upper hand until 9-5 but the Japanese couple changed the scenario with six uninterrupted rallies before half time.
They managed to go with same flow until winning score of 21-16 and setup a quarter-final clash with compatriot shuttlers Ryota Taohata and Ayaka Takahashi.
Tags: