Sudirman Cup: Japan stage thrilling comeback after huge scare, England shock Denmark
Top-ranked Japan eked out a narrow 3-2 win over Russia with top-ranked Kento Momota absent in the men's singles in their Group 1A opener at the ongoing Sudirman Cup in Nanning in China's southern Guangxi region on Monday.
Japan, one of the favorites for the crown, won the opening mixed doubles through Takuro Hoki, the 2018 Korea Open champion and Wakana Nagahara, the 2018 World Championships women's doubles winner, who beat the pair of Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova 21-10, 21-15.
Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in action against Russia's Natalia Perminova during their women's singles match at the Sudirman Cup in Nanning, China, May 20, 2019. /VCG Photo
After Russia took the following two matches for a shock 2-1 lead, Japan regained their upper hand by winning the women's singles and women's doubles to seal the victory.
"We were both nervous at first, yet we adjusted well and overall played to our level," said Nagahara, while Hoki tipped hosts China as the strongest among all the fancied teams, saying "the goal we made for the Sudirman Cup is to defeat China".
"Japan didn't send their best player in the men's singles, maybe they made a mistake. Today all of our players played well, we deserve the win," Sozonov said after the men's doubles.
Japan will play their last group rival Thailand on Wednesday, while Russia must beat Thailand on Tuesday, to stand a chance of being among the top two teams from the group advancing to the quarter-finals.
Japan's Yuki Fukushima (L) and Sayaka Hirota hit a return during their women's doubles match at the Sudirman Cup in Nanning, China, May 20, 2019. /VCG Photo
Meanwhile, England avoided an early exit from the Sudirman Cup with a thrilling 3-2 victory over powerhouse Denmark in Group 1B.
Looking to become the first non-Asian champions in Sudirman Cup's 30-year history, Denmark found themselves 0-1 down after Mathias Christiansen/Sara Thygesen lost to Marcus Ellis/Lauren Smith 21-15, 20-22, 17-21 in the mixed doubles.
Former world champion Viktor Axelsen got Denmark back on the track in the men's singles, defeating Toby Penty 21-11, 13-21, 21-17 before Mia Blichfeldt beat Chloe Birch 21-11, 18-21, 21-12 in the women's singles to give Denmark a 2-1 lead.
"I felt good in the first game, but in the second my opponent got better in conditions and I was getting slow. It was a tough match for us today," said Axelsen.
England's Chris Langridge (L) and Marcus Ellis during their men's doubles match of the 2019 Sudirman Cup in Nanning, China, May 20, 2019. /VCG Photo
However, the night was to get much harder for Denmark.
England, who lost to Indonesia 4-1 in their opener, saw Marcus Ellis/Chris Langridge tie 2-2 after an exhausting men's doubles match that lasted one hour and 38 minutes, before Chloe Birch/Lauren Smith upset Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen 21-12, 19-21, 21-11 in the women's doubles to claim the win.
On Wednesday, Denmark will take on their second and last group rival Indonesia, to decide the top two sides from the group to go on to the quarterfinals.
In Group 1C, defending champions South Korea, who is missing star players Son Wan-ho and Sung Ji-hyun due to injury, downed Hong Kong 4-1 to secure a place in the quarterfinals.