The Round of 16 at the CROWNE PLAZA Saipan International started hot, with several major names making an early exit, and one American underdog writing the day’s best story.
Garret Tan (USA) has played every edition of the Saipan International, but a quarterfinal had eluded him until today. Standing in his way was Cheng Ju-Sheng (TPE), a semifinalist at last week’s YONEX Northern Marianas Open. After dropping the first game, Tan rallied to take the second and raced out to a 9-2 lead in the third, only for Cheng to claw his way back level. In the defining moments, it was Tan who held his nerve, closing out an 18-21, 21-13, 21-18 win.
“Last week I was in the same position, I was up 8-0 in the second game,” Tan said. “I just told myself, ‘It’s not over yet’, ‘I’m going to win for sure’. I had to be confident today and not think about losing, and I think that’s what made the most difference.”
It was a different story for Lee Hyeong Woo, who endured a day to forget across both his events. The Korean, fresh off a YONEX Northern Marianas Open mixed doubles title alongside Park Seul, saw his bid for a second gold end at the hands of Mutsuki Ampo/Aya Tamaki (JPN), who fought back from a game down to win 12-21, 21-19, 21-15. Lee’s men’s doubles campaign fared no better — he and partner Jin Ik Sun took a second-game lead over Japan’s Kazuya Minamoto/Osuke Sakurai but couldn’t hold on, falling 21-18, 21-23.
There was an upset in the mixed doubles too, as top seeds Mohit Jaglan/Lakshita Jaglan (IND) were knocked out by Chinese Taipei’s Yu Yen Cheng/Li Yu His, 19-21, 21-15, 15-21.
In the men’s singles, Cho Hyeon Woo (KOR) delivered the day’s biggest statement, dismantling number one seed Wang Yu-Kai (TPE) in straight games, 21-14, 21-18, to book his spot in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.
The women’s singles produced its own thriller, as second seed Ella Lin (USA) was edged out by Japan’s Nana Hisaminato in a nail-biting 21-19, 21-18 contest.
The day closed with the last of Oceania’s athletes bowing out of the competition. Northern Marianas’ top women’s doubles pair, Shaina Malonzo/Lina Tsukagoshi, took on the experienced Moe Aoki/Hina Osawa (JPN) in the final match of the day. Though the result didn’t go their way, the young NMI pair walked away with invaluable experience against seasoned opposition.
