MUTSUYAMA/SHIDA reach the semis
MUTSUYAMA/SHIDA’s incredible defense...
A very exiting opposition on court 2 between two pairs ranked in the world's top 5. 3 out of 4 players are Olympic bronze medalists. KONG Hee Yong in 2020 and MATSUYAMA/SHIDA last year here at the adidas arena. Since the pair was back together in 2024, the Koreans have not beaten the Japanese. Will the streak continue?
The match begins tactically, with the world number 5 fearing Japan's well-known defensive capabilities. The Koreans' attacks are thought out with a desire to be more precise than powerful to find the opponent's weaknesses. This tactic allows them to take the lead at the break: 11/7. But the number three seeds do not give up and put their counter-attack game into place. They quickly made up the deficit to conclude the first game 21/17.
... a massive weapon to get a first world medal
The second set begins in a very tense manner. The teams are focused from the very first shots of the rally: 11/10 at the break for the Japanese. Nothing is decided yet. But KIM/KONG grow impatient in the attack and make a series of unforced errors. They will not see MATSUYAMA/SHIDA back again. Japan’s favorites are in the semies: 21/17 21/14. Therefore, the Japanese secure their first world medal.
About the condition in the hall, MATSUYAMA told us: “The drift is really strong I saw the shuttle changing direction several times”.
SHIDA added: “In the beginning of the first game I made couple of unforced errors. The drift condition of the court is quite difficult so I knew that if we could fix that problem it would be possible to win the match. [...] We lost in quarter finals in Japan Open, so this time we are very happy to make it in semi-final. We have never been in the semies of the world championships, our mindset will need to be much higher for tomorrow.”
Tomorrow they will fight to reach a final against the winners of the match between the STOEVA sisters (no. 19, Bulgaria) and the world no. 2 TAN/THINAAH (Malaysia).