Intanon Recovers to Make Final – Hong Kong Open: Semifinals
Ratchanok Intanon shrugged off a shaky spell of play to enter the final of the YONEX-SUNRISE Hong Kong Open 2019 for the second successive year.
· DEV SUKUMAR
The Thai was cruising at 19-12 against Akane Yamaguchi when she fell prey to self-doubt, and Yamaguchi stormed back to take the opening game at 23-21.
But Intanon refused to let the setback deflate her, and stuck to her task, unveiling many of her signature strokes that Yamaguchi struggled to return. Intanon’s smashes were sharp and homed in on the lines; at the net she conjured some shots that drew gasps from the crowd.
Yamaguchi, who hasn’t looked her best in recent months, eventually faded away in the face of Intanon’s cutting blows, 21-23 21-15 21-12.