YONEX JAPAN OPEN Qualif - Matsutomo the new Japanese Star?

If the stars were still warming up on the training courts, the young generation was on the official floor to try to get their tickets to the main draw. No problem for Wang Xin and Bae Seung Hee, but the new name on everyone's lips is rising local talent Misaki Matsutomo.

By Miyuki Komiya, Badzine Correspondent live from Tokyo. Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

There were only singles today played in the qualification rounds on Tuesday. Japanese rising star Misaki Matsutomo was of the the players watched by the already numerous crowd at the Tokyo Gymnasium. The 17-year-old, secured two close wins, over Jang Soo Young of Korea and Yuka Kusunose of Japan. She will be going to the main draw on Wednesday.

Whenever the experienced Jang, played the shuttle toward the net, the young local girl got to it very quickly and kept sending her shots toward the opposite side Jang was moving towards, wrong-footing the Korean on every occasion. This led to a quick lead and win in the first game 21-18.

The second game didn't go as smoothly, as, this time, Jang scored many points on Matsutomo's misshots. Jang was leading 11-4 but after the break, the Japanese caught back, scoring 6 consective points but once again, Jang (pictured below) rode her opponent's errors to a 18-13 lead. Remaining calm, the local teenager took over and once again tricked her opponent, before nailing a last smash to finish it up 21-19.

japan09-Jang

"I made a lot of mistakes in the second game. My coach told me at half time that my pace was not bad and that I should just be careful about Jang's drop shots, blaming my footwork when I was going back. So I focused on moving as fast as possible towards the rear court. I believed that I had a chance to catch back up when I scored 6 consecutive points from 11-4. When I reached 18-18, I knew I could win."

Matsutomo had a good result in Belgium International Challenge this year, taking second place.

"I played many tall players in other countries in international tounaments. That helped me find the right strategy on how to snatch a win from a tall opponent, and the confidence that I could beat them as well," she said.

"Last year, I didn't play at my regular pace here because I was nervous, but today, on court, I felt more calm. I will try my best against my next opponents".

Mr.Tadokoro, her high school coach, agreed with her: "She didn't have confidence of her basic shots last year because she didn't have much time to train because of her travels to international tounaments as a junior national player. She seemed to be able to use shots with confidence today. She is short, so she needs to play with her pace in order to win. Today she played with a lot or rhythm and her net shots were great. That's why she was able to win," he added.

Matsutomo went on to beat her compatriot Kusunose in the next round to clinch her ticket for the main draw, where she will meet Petya Nedelcheva from Bulgaria.

Wang Xin, the rising Chinese star, had little trouble overcoming her two rounds and qualified for Wednesday's main draw, as did Korea's Bae Seung Hee, who will take on Pi Hongyan from France.

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