Denmark’s Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen have finished runner-up at the Australian Open Superseries in Sydney after a solid week of results in the build up to the World Championships in Glasgow (August).
Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi proved too strong for the Danish combination today as the Japanese world no.1 pair won in straight games 21-10, 21-13 (42 minutes) to claim their first Superseries victory of 2017. It was the 16th meeting of the two world class women’s doubles since their first encounter in 2011 at the Yonex Japan Open.
„It has been a tough week for us and we had to work really hard to reach the final. Today, Matsutomo and Takahashi showed us why they are world no. 1. We really wanted to give more, but they were just one step ahead in all situations and we were struggling to find our best. Thank you all for the great support during this week, it has been a pleasure to play here in Sydney. We will now go back to Denmark and enjoy one week holiday before focusing on the World Championships“, the 2017 European Champion wrote on their official Facebook page.
Three titles for Japan
Olympic bronze medallist Nozomi Okuhara earlier downed Akane Yamaguchi 21-12, 21-23, 21-17 in an all-Japanese women's final. Okuhara won her first World Superseries title since the Yonex All England last year.
India's Kidambi Srikanth claimed a first victory over Olympic and two-time world champion Chen Long to win the Australian Open Superseries final in Sydney on Sunday. It was Srikanth's first win in six encounters against the Rio Olympic champion.
Australian Open finals results:
MS: Srikanth K. (IND) - Chen Long (CHN) 22-20, 21-16
WS: Nozomi Okuhara (JPN)- Akane Yamaguchi (JPN) 21-12, 21-23, 21-17
MD: Takeshi Kamura/Keigo Sonoda (JPN) - Hendra Setiawan/Boon Heong Tan (INA/MAS) 21-17, 21-19
WD: Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi (JPN) - Kamilla R. Juhl/Christinna Pedersen (DEN) 21-10, 21-13
XD: Zheng Siwei/Chen Qingchen (CHN) - Praveen Jordan/Debby Susanto (INA) 18-21, 21-14, 21-17
Article by Manuel Rösler. Photos by BadmintonPhoto.