Osaka: The Japanese team enjoyed a sensational day in the final of the Japan Open by securing both the men’s singles and women’s singles gold on Sunday.
World No. 21 Kenta Nishimoto pulled off an upset to beat World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan 21-19, 21-23, 21-17 to become the second Japanese men’s singles player to capture the Japan Open title after Kento Momota did it in 2018 and 2019.
“I am really happy and also a bit relieved,” said Nishimoto after winning his first international title.
“I was kind of worried entering the decider because Chou is an experienced and smart player, that’s why I have to stay focused all the way to the end,” added Nishimoto.
Meanwhile, Chou who had walked away as the winner in all previous 3-setters of the 2022 Japan Open, couldn’t find a way to rally back to win the match in the final.
“I kept pushing, my strategy worked in the second set but I made some mistakes in the decider and it’s hard for me to recover,” said Chou.
In women’s singles, World No. 2 Akane Yamaguchi who defended her World Championships last Sunday in Tokyo, won her third Japan Open title as she defeated An Se Young of Korea 21-9, 21-15. Yamaguchi also won the Japan Open in 2013, 2019.
“It’s really tough to play against An, that’s why I had to start controlling the game from the start,” said Yamaguchi.
“Thanks to the crowd for their support,” added Yamaguchi.
China’s World No. 88 Liang Wei Kang/Wang Chang continued their impressive performance as they upset World No. 8 Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-18, 13-21, 21-17 to clinch the men’s doubles crown.
In the all-Korean women’s doubles final, South Korea’s World No. 10 Jeong Na-Eun/Kim Hye-Jeong were pushed to the limit before overcoming their compatriots World No. 32 Baek Ha-na/Lee Yu-Lim 23-21, 28-26 to win the title.
The mixed doubles final saw Thailand’s World No. 1 Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai spoiled Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino’s hope of becoming the first Japanese pair to win the mixed doubles event at the Japan Open by outlasting the home favorites 16-21, 23-21, 21-18.
