JAPAN OPEN 2013 Day 1 – Welcome back Sayaka

Sayaka Sato won her first match since her injury in the Olympics, on day 1 of the Yonex Japan Open. She had still heavy strap on her knee, yet she seemed in full confidence, almost one year after she had torn her ligaments and left the court in tears, in London, forfeiting her match to Tine Baun.

By Miyuki Komiya, Photos (live): Badmintonphoto

The initial comeback from injury for Sayaka Sato (pictured) came this past July where at both the Canada and U.S. Opens, she bowed in the first round to the Thai player who would eventually take the title.  However, she celebrated her return to a Superseries tournament in style, at home. On Tuesday, she beat former Japanese national player Masayo Nojirino 21-13, 15-21, 21-19  in her first match, which lasted over one hour and then, took on young Japanese talent Chisato Hoshi, beating her 21-13, 21-18 in 36 minutes.

“I can play as 80% of my best. I understood I need more speed to play at this level but I am just appreciating that I can play in the Japan Open again even if I am not national team player,”  Sayaka told Badzine. She could not play for the Japanese trials in January and hence could not be selected for the national squad. Sato will play last year’s runner-up Eriko Hirose in Wednesday’s first round match.

Japanese photographers also took time to shoot another rising star – 16-year-old Akane Yamaguchi (photo) – who was runner-up in the World Junior Championships in 2012 and scooped her first senior title this year in the Osaka International. Yamaguchi also made it to the main round where she will meet another qualifier – Ayumi Mine.

The tournament has kicked off in style, going back to its old house – the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium after a year in Yoyogi because this venue was under renovation. The staff is ready.  There are the same familiar and friendly faces year after year.  The Japan Open is to the East what the All England is to the Western part of the world in terms of tradition and long-term involment from volunteers and staff. Top players have all arrived and were hitting in the big practise hall before they take to the courts on Wednesday.

As she had hinted in the Indian Press, Saina Nehwal withdrew from the event, so did Indonesia’s Aprilla Yuswandari.  In fact, the women’s singles draw is without 2 of the last 3 World Junior Champions as Nozomi Okuhara also withdrew on the eve of the competition, postponing yet again her return from a long injury lay-off and leaving it to Asian Junior Champion Aya Ohori to face the mighty Li Xuerui in her stead.  While the 2008 and 2012 winners are missing, 2009-2011 World Junior and current World Champion Ratchanok Intanon is still scheduled to play her first round match despite having to back out of the All Thailand Championships and the China Masters in recent weeks.

In the men’s singles, Du Pengyu stayed home and was replaced by India’s H. S. Prannoy, while R. M. V. Gurusaidutt also withdrew, leaving his compatriot Anand Pawar to take his spot and play Sony Dwi Kuncoro. Last but not least, giant-killer Srikanth K. took the spot left by P. Kashyap in the lower part of the draw.

Cheng Shu and Zhao Yunlei have also withdrawn, which will make the day of Anna Rankin and Madeleine Stapleton from New Zealand, while in the mixed, Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen will be the only Danish pair as both other pairs – Kolding/Rytter-Juhl and Kristensen/Houmann – withdrew .

Click here for complete qualifying day results