BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom – The men’s singles finals at the YONEX All England Open 2019 will be a dramatic #TeamYonex faceoff between Viktor Axelsen (DEN) and Kento Momota (JPN).
Axelsen pulled off a stunning upset over second-seeded Shi Yuqi of China. After trading point for point in the first game, Axelsen eventually won 22-20, only to lose the second game by a margin of 21-13. But in the third game, Axelsen came back to life, his shots and smashes expertly placed, to which Shi could find no answers to. Axelsen eventually booked his spot in the finals with 22-20, 13-21, 21-9.
Momota got off to a slow start, falling behind 4-10 early in the first game to Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus. But just when his engines appeared to be revved up, he reversed the lead to 18-14. Angus came back to tie things up at 18 all. Momota would eventually escape the first game 21-19, but from there he never really looked back, winning 21-19, 21-11. Axelsen and Momota have met 12 times in their careers, with Momota holding a 10-2 advantage.
The first match of the day was in women’s doubles, where World Champions Mayu Matsumoto (JPN) and Wakana Nagahara (JPN) made short work of compatriots Shiho Tanaka and Koharu Yonemoto. Though the two pairs enjoyed some long rallies, Matsumoto and Nagahara got off to a comfortable lead in both games and the 21-11, 21-12 result never really seemed in question.
In mixed doubles, last year’s All England champions Yuta Watanabe (JPN) and Arisa Higashino (JPN) decisively booked their chance to defend their title in tomorrow’s final. They only needed 37 minutes to ease past Malaysian pair Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie, 21-16, 21-13.
For full round results go here.
Viktor Axelsen DUORA Z-STRIKE, AEROBITE BOOST, POWER CUSHION 65 Z
Kento Momota ASTROX 99, AEROBITE, POWER CUSHION 65 Z
Mayu Matsumoto DUORA 10, AEROBITE, POWER CUSHION COMFORT Z WIDE
Wakana Nagahara ASTROX 88 S, AEROBITE, POWER CUSHION 65 Z
Yuta Watanabe DUORA Z-STRIKE, BG66 ULTIMAX, POWER CUSHION 65 Z
Arisa Higashino NANOFLARE 700, BG66 ULTIMAX