Wang Zhiyi booked her spot in the Kumamoto Masters final by defeating Tomoka Miyazaki 21-10, 21-15 on Saturday in Kumamoto, Japan.
Wang needed just 43 minutes to dispatch the young Japanese challenger in straight games. Miyazaki relied on an aggressive style featuring deep jumps and high-speed downward smashes, but Wang neutralized the pace by defending deep and slowing down the rallies. Wang finished with clear margins in both games, securing her sixth tour final appearance of the season.
“I didn’t do well enough in rhythm control and decisiveness,” Wang said of her previous loss to Miyazaki at the China Masters semi-finals, according to reports.
In the adjacent semi-final, Chen Yufei retired against Akane Yamaguchi during the deciding game. Chen claimed the opening set 21-18 before Yamaguchi forced a decider with a 21-8 win. Chen trailed 11-4 in the third game when she stopped playing to protect her right ankle, which had recently required a two-month recovery period.
The withdrawal leaves Wang as the sole Chinese contender remaining in the women’s singles draw.
Wang will face Yamaguchi for the title after the Japanese veteran advanced to her eleventh individual final of the year. The head-to-head record between Wang and Yamaguchi stands at 10 wins apiece.
World number one An Se-young skipped the Super 500 event.
Wang faces Japanese player Akane Yamaguchi, who advanced after Chen Yufei retired in the third game of their semi-final.
Broadcasting schedules and streaming channels depend on official platforms such as CCTV Sports, Migu Video, and Badminton World Federation feeds.
Chen stopped playing while trailing 11-4 in the third game to protect her ankle following four straight days of competitive matches.
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