All England: Yamaguchi Holds Off Heir Apparent
In due course, it is near-certain that Tomoka Miyazaki will be the spearhead of Japan’s women’s singles campaigns. Just not yet. For the moment, it’s still Akane Yamaguchi.
· DEV SUKUMAR
Teenager Miyazaki, enjoying a meteoric rise and breaking into the top 10 in January, was challenging her senior in the quarterfinals of the YONEX All England, a stage that Yamaguchi has excelled in over the years. Having beaten Yamaguchi at their last meeting in September, and with Yamaguchi playing her first tournament in three months, the challenger had the edge.
For a significant portion of their quarterfinal clash, the schoolgirl was her brilliant best. Playing the exact lengths and angles needed to hold Yamaguchi back, Miyazaki had two game points in the first.
Once those opportunities were lost the momentum shifted. Miyazaki fought gamely but Yamaguchi capitalised on small openings. The 26-24 21-16 result saw her into the semifinals.