Singapore Open 2012: Miyuki Maeda, Satoko Suetsuna tread into Women’s Doubles semi-finals
Women’s Doubles team Miyuki Maeda-Satoko Suetsuna of Japan outclassed Shinta Mulia Sari-Lei Yao to surge into semi-finals of Li Ning Singapore Open on June 22, 2012.
This epic quarter-final tussle kept both contenders head-to-head for one hour and 29 minutes before ending with final result of 21-19, 17-21 and 27-25.
World Number nine duo enthralled local team in opening and closing segments of the show while their challengers could only rise in the middle.
The Singapore Indoor Stadium was filled to its brim as local crowd assembled to support the natives but Japanese pair buried their hopes in first set straight away.
Though, Shinta Mulia and Lei Yao gained a decent lead in the beginning by putting 8-5 total but the opposing team played with great precision and turned the tables in later part.
Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna, who also hold fourth seeding in this tournament, were at lower end until mid-game break but then they accelerated their pace and cruised to a splendid victory.
In third quarter of set, they managed to gain a three-point advantage at 17-14 position which helped them to clinch vital match point with a convincing margin of 21-19.
However, the Singaporean ladies gave their supporters something to cheer in following game as they turned their rivals’ plan of straight-set win into dust.
They were bit under pressure in the beginning but they showed transformed character in final stage and managed to stay in the contest.
In first half, they got pale in front of their high ranked opponents but they successfully kept their challengers away from a comfortable lead before interval.
The twosome of Shinta Mulia and Lei Yao trailed behind until 16-17 but they bagged five points in a row and reached at winning figure of 21-17.
Third set proved best part of the tussle as both contenders played their heart out to lock the honour. None of them could establish a permanent lead all the way to final stage.
They chased each other until 25-25 and finally this race ended when Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna dominated last two rallies of 27-25 margin.
The victorious Japanese pair will now test their skills against World Number five Chinese partners Bao Yixin and Zhong Qianxin in second last round of the event.
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