Danes Stumble to Rising Japanese – Day 3: Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open 2018
Third seeds Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl were shown the door at the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open 2018 by fast-rising Japanese pair Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara today.
· DEV SUKUMAR
Matsumoto and Nagahara (featured image), the latest of Japan’s gems that have been unearthed and who have had a meteoric rise over the past year, unsettled the All England champions with their attacking play and cantered through in rather comfortable fashion in their Women’s Doubles second round, 21-16 21-15, in 43 minutes.
The victory ensured an all-Japanese quarter-final against fifth seeds Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi, who overpowered Malaysia’s Vivian Hoo/Soong Fie Cho 21-14 21-9.
Pedersen had high praise for her vanquishers: “We love to do our best in Malaysia, but it was difficult for us to find rhythm today. Our opponents are strong; we played them in the All England semi-finals and knew it would be tough. All the Japanese pairs are strong. These two are good in the attacking game, the tall girl (Matsumoto) has a good power smash. They have a good defence and good feeling on court.”