Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024: Li Shifeng knocks out Viktor Axelsen after Leong Jun Hao stuns Jonatan Christie in semi-finals
Li won his first meeting against the double Olympic champion in straight games after Leong produced a superb comeback to reach his first Super 500 final in Japan.
Badminton
Li Shifeng and Leong Jun Hao will contest the men's singles final at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024 after a day of shocks.
Seventh seed Li, who won last year's All England Open, defeated two-time reigning Olympic badminton champion Viktor Axelsen 21-16, 21-15 in an exciting encounter on Saturday (16 November) to reach just his second BWF World Tour final of the year.
In their first career meeting, Li had the better of the early net exchanges and managed to put the Dane on the back foot. Axelsen was having to work hard to stay in touch with the 24-year-old from People's Republic of China taking an 11-7 lead into the mid-game interval.
Axelsen won seven of the next nine points to level at 14-14, but grew visibly frustrated as a Li drop shot flicked off the net to give him no chance and put the Chinese 18-15 ahead.
The Asian Games gold medallist continued to impress with his shot variety and two consecutive overheads secured him the opening game 21-16 in 22 minutes.
Axelsen removed some strapping from his left leg before the second game, but looked to be struggling as much mentally as physically. Against an opponent showing sound defence, the top seed was trying to end rallies early with attempted winners that often missed the target.
Li turned a 4-3 lead into an 11-6 advantage at the break. Axelsen managed to draw level at 15-15 but his movement was compromised, and Li reeled off the next six points to complete victory. He is now one win away from his first title of 2024 and marked his latest triumph with a Cristiano Ronaldo 'Siuu' celebration.
Having beaten Lee Zii Jia on Friday, Jonatan Christie could not make it two wins over Malaysian shuttlers on consecutive days, as Leong Jun Hao continued his stunning week in Kumamoto.
The Indonesian star looked in control as he cruised to the first game 21-10 in just 16 minutes. But Leong won five consecutive points from 9-9 in the second to boost his hopes. The 25-year-old showed exceptional power in his smashes to square the match.
Christie led 11-6 and 17-10 in the decider but - seeing his opponent tiring - opted to try to lengthen the rallies. Leong, despite passing five hours on court this week, hauled himself back into the contest with six consecutive points before levelling at 18-18.
And the world number 31 converted his second match point to clinch victory 10-21, 21-18, 22-20 in an hour and 17 minutes and reach his first Super 500 final. Both his previous BWF World Tour titles have been at Super 100 level.
Yamaguchi Akane delights home fans to reach women's singles final
Second seed Yamaguchi Akane ensured there would be home interest in Sunday's singles finals as she defeated Pornpawee Chochuwong.
After easing to the first game against her Thai opponent, the two-time world champion was made to work as she eventually won 21-9, 12-21, 21-18 in an hour and 11 minutes.
Yamaguchi will face Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the final after the fifth seed from Indonesia beat Republic of Korea's Sim Yujin 18-21, 21-17, 21-19.
Fukushima Yuki and Matsumoto Mayu made it through to the women's doubles final, but third seeds Matsuyama Nami and Shida Chiharu fell to China's Olympic silver medallists Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning.
In an all-Indonesian men's doubles clash, third seeds Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto defeated Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana 21-18, 21-13.
Alfian and Ardianto will go up against Japan's Hoki Takuro and Kobayashi Yugo in the final with all the action being streamed live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app (territorial restrictions may apply).