In the 1st round of this year's Malaysia Open, the 2013 YONEX OPEN JAPAN winner and 2013 world junior champion, 16-year-old Akane Yamaguchi won a very difficult match against the 2013 world champion Ratchanok Intanon (ARC-FB,SHBF1NLX), 21-18 23-25 21-16.
Akane started off the tournament strong in her first match against world No. 3 Ratchanok, winning the game 21-18. Ratchanok improved her play to win the second game 25-23, however, Akane used various shots to disrupt her opponent’s game, but ultimately Ratchanok seized control in the final match for the victory with a final score was 21-18 23-25 21-16. Next, she will play against her fellow Japanese badminton player Minatsu Mitani.
Tournament Results: 1st Round
Men’s singles
[1]Lee Chong Wei (VTZF, SHB01LTD)(MAS) def. Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (DEN) 21-7 21-13
[4]Tommy Sugiarto (ARC11)(INA) def. Rajiv Ouseph (NR800)(ENG) 21-13 21-12
[5]Kenichi Tago (JPN) def. Vladimir Ivanov (VT80)(RUS) 21-15 21-19
Kento Momota (JPN) def. Viktor Axelsen (DEN) 12-21 24-22 21-18
Women’s Singles
[8]Saina Nehwal(NR700RP)(IND) def. Hera Desi (INA) 21-10 21-16
Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) def. [2]Ratchanok Intanon (ARC-FB, SHBF1NLX)(THA) 21-18 23-25 21-16
Men’s Doubles
[1]Mohammad Ahsan (ARC-FB)/Hendra Setiawan (NR800, SHBF1NLTD)(INA) def. Chris Adcock (VTZF, SHB01LTD)/Andrew Ellis (VT80)(ENG) 21-18 21-9
[6]Hiroyuki Endo /Kenichi Hayakawa (JPN) def. MOhd Zakry Abdul Latif/Mohd Faruzizuan Mohd Tazari (MAS) 21-6 21-7
Women’s Doubles
[2]Kamilla Rytter Juhl (NR-ZSP)/Christinna Pedersen (NR800, SHB-01LX)(DEN) def. Chae Yoo Jung/Kim Ji Won (KOR) 16-21 21-11 21-17
[3]Ayaka Takahashi /Misaki Matsutomo (JPN) def. Jung Kyung Eun/Shin Seung Chan (KOR) 21-15 21-18
Mixed Doubles
[3]Christinna Pedersen (NR800, SHB-01LX)/Joachim Fischer Nielsen (DEN) def. Chan Yun Lung/Tse Ying Suet (HKG) 21-12 21-13
[5]Chris Adcock (VTZF, SHB01LTD)/Gabrielle Adcock (VT80, SHB-01LX)(ENG) def. Liu Cheng/Bao Yixin (CHN) 21-14 21-13
[6]Chan Peng Soon (ARC10)/Goh Liu Ying (NR-ZSP, SHB01LTD)(MAS) def. Muhammad Rijal (ARC10)/Vita Marissa (INA) 23-21 17-21 21-10
*Yamaguchi's image is from 2013 YONEX OPEN JAPAN.