Shaken but Not Stirred
What are the odds of a previous match from an earlier tournament, involving your rivals, unsettling you during your own?
· PREM KUMAR
For Han Yue, it nearly became a reality in her HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2024 opener versus Akane Yamaguchi, whose younger compatriot Tomoka Miyazaki’s collapse against An Se Young at last month’s China Masters almost throwing the second seed off her game at the Hangzhou Olympic Center.
Much like Miyazaki’s squandering of seven match points in her semifinal some 1,400km down south in Shenzen three weeks ago, Han allowed Yamaguchi to catch up from 19-9 to 19-17 in the second game, having won the first. Halfway through Yamaguchi’s eight-point sprint, the world No.8’s expression shifted to one of frustration, her steps becoming slower and more pensive.
“I don’t know why but An’s match suddenly came to my mind. As a result, I got anxious and started making more mistakes,” admitted Han, who steadied herself to finish the job 21-19 21-17.