After this morning’s round of exciting Semi-Final matches, New Zealand representatives will feature in four of the five Finals this afternoon at the 2018 YONEX North Harbour International.
Finals Day kickstarted with thrilling Mixed Doubles Semi-Final matches. New Zealanders and Number 3 Seeded pair Maika PHILLIPS and Anona PAK overcame the last-standing Australian Mixed Doubles pair, Huaidong TANG and Jennifer TAM [3] in 3 games (21-10, 18-21, 21-17) – the longest match of the session. Meanwhile, the only Mixed Doubles pair from Brazil, Fabricio FARIAS and Jaqueline LIMA [4] made their trip to the Oceania region worthwhile, defeating locals Kevin DENNERLY-MINTURN and Kylie LUO (New Zealand) in straight games (21-18, 21-16).
In eventful Men’s Singles matches, New Zealand’s Abhinav MANOTA, Seed Number 9, continued his strong performance, knocking out Number 3 Seed Ashwant GOBINATHAN (Australia) comfortably (21-15, 21-12). On the other side of the draw, an early exit by Edward LAU (New Zealand) shocked spectators, allowing Oscar GUO (New Zealand) through to the Men’s Singles Final. LAU [13] retired from injury 11 minutes into the match against GUO [10], 6-9.
Women’s Singles will see Australian, Louisa MA [4] matched up against Indonesian Jesica MULJATI [2] in the Final this afternoon. Both players completing their Semi-Finals comfortably in straight sets – MA defeated Shaunna LI (New Zealand), 21-17, 21-13; and MULJATI defeated Jennifer TAM [3] (Australia), 21-10, 21-13.
An all-New-Zealand Men’s Doubles Final will feature Number 2 Seeds Jonathan CURTIN and Dhanny OUD, and Number 3 Seeds, Kevin DENNERLY-MINTURN and Oliver LEYDON-DAVIS. CURTIN and OUD overcame New Zealand brothers Dacmen and Daxxon VONG [7], 22-20, 21-16, in the Semi-Finals. On the adjacent court, DENNERLY-MINTURN and LEYDON-DAVIS overpowered Seed Number 1 pair Simon Wing Hang LEUNG and Mitchell WHELLER (Australia).
LEYDON-DAVIS sibling, Susannah will also feature in a doubles final, partnering up with fellow New Zealander, Sally FU in the Women’s Doubles. While unseeded in the tournament, S. LEYDON-DAVIS and FU toppled first seed Erena CALDER-HAWKINS and Jasmin Chung Man NG (New Zealand), 21-12, 21-11, in the Semi-Finals. The other Women’s Doubles Finalists is none other than London 2012 Olympic pair, Leanne CHOO and Renuga VEERAN [2] (Australia), who overcame Anona PAK and Danielle TAHURI [4] (New Zealand), 21-9-21-15, in the Semi-Finals.
Spectators will be treated a series of riveting Finals matches of the 2018 YONEX North Harbour International, starting at 4:00PM NZDT today, to be played in the following order:
MIXED DOUBLES
Fabricio FARIAS / Jacqueline LIMA [4] (BRA) vs Maika PHILLIPS / Anona PAK [3] (NZL)
WOMEN’S SINGLES
Louisa MA [4] (AUS) vs Jesica MULJATI [2] (INA)
MEN’S SINGLES
Oscar GUO [10] (NZL) vs Abhinav MANOTA [9] (NZL)
WOMEN’S DOUBLES
Sally FU / Susannah LEYDON-DAVIS (NZL) vs Leanne CHOO / Renuga VEERAN [2] (AUS)
MEN’S DOUBLES
Kevin DENNERLY-MINTURN / Oliver LEYDON-DAVIS [3] (NZL) vs Jonathan CURTIN / Dhanny OUD [2] (NZL)
