Okuhara Falls Short Again – Fuzhou China Open: Final
Nozomi Okuhara had to swallow another bitter pill in her sixth title bout this year, with the Japanese failing to surmount the final hurdle yet again, at the Fuzhou China Open 2019.
· DEV SUKUMAR
The result was a repeat of last year’s final, with home hope Chen Yu Fei defending her title 9-21 21-12 21-18.
It was a strangely underwhelming performance by Okuhara, who, after an excellent start in which she decimated Chen, could only turn on her consistency in fits and starts. The second game was nightmarish for the Japanese with most of her clears – her bread and butter shots on which her game is based – falling long or wide.
At the other end, Chen had found her groove, and to Okuhara’s discomfiture, was moving with great efficiency, just a couple of steps on every shot, thus forcing Okuhara to do all the hard work. The Japanese could only attempt to wear Chen down with her interminable rallying style, but Chen’s efficient movement, coupled with her own inconsistency, meant it was always a battle with her back to the wall.