Australia’s Gronya Somerville and Nozomi Shimizu are both into two semifinals after Day 3 of the MAXX North Harbour International at Badminton North Harbour on Friday. Oceania players feature in four semifinals, with five Oceania pairs competing in the mixed doubles quarterfinals and two progressing on.
Top seeds and Owen/Somerville through in mixed doubles
Top seeds and last year’s runners-up Andika Ramadiansyah and Nozomi Shimizu (AUS) were too strong for their compatriots Rio Agustino and Priska Kustiadi, winning 21-14, 21-14 in an all-Oceania quarterfinal.
Shimizu said the pressure of last year’s result was on her mind coming in.
“Before this tournament I was a bit anxious because last year we got runner-up and we need to get the points. Even when I saw the draw I was like, ‘Oh my gosh’, but we’ve been doing great, yeah, not bad, not bad,” she said.
Asked about the pressure to win, Ramadiansyah said they feel it, and that the key is staying in control.
“Yes, of course, we are feeling that, but first we need to control it and handle it, focusing one by one,” he said.
They will be joined in the semifinals by Michael Owen and Gronya Somerville (AUS), who defeated Chinese Taipei’s Yu Wei Lin and Hsieh Mi Yen 21-13, 21-17.
Landon Kurniawan and Mimi Ngo (AUS) put up a great fight against Chinese Taipei’s Lin Bing-Wei and Liao Jui-Chi but lost 21-17, 21-15. Jack and Angela Yu (AUS) also went out in the quarterfinals, losing 21-17, 21-11 to Lu Chen and Yun Jung Chang (TPE).
Somerville and Shimizu also advance in women’s doubles
Somerville will also take the court in the women’s doubles semifinals, alongside Angela Yu (AUS). The pair won the Oceania Championships earlier this year.
They defeated Japan’s Machi Nagasako and Yuzuki Nakashima 21-18, 21-18 in a tight quarterfinal, coming from behind in both games. They trailed at the interval in the first and were 13-7 down in the second before turning both around.
Earlier in the Round of 16, Somerville and Yu won 21-8, 21-11 against New Zealand’s Berry Ng and Amanda Ting in a rematch of this year’s Oceania Championships.
Shimizu also advances in women’s doubles with compatriot Laudya Griselda, who put in a very strong showing to defeat Chinese Taipei’s Yi Tsen Hsieh and Jui-Yi Hsu 21-14, 21-16 in the quarterfinals.
Men’s doubles exits for Oceania pairs
Raphael Deloy and Dylan Soedjasa (NZL) came close to a quarterfinal place, rallying to take the second game against Chinese Taipei’s Lu Chia Hung and Lu Chia Pin. A few errors from the New Zealand pair proved the difference, with the Taiwanese pair winning 21-16, 18-21, 21-15. Lu Chia Pin was making his first international appearance since 2019 on Day 1.
Michael Owen and Jack Yu (AUS) went out 21-19, 21-12 to Chinese Taipei’s Shao Hua Chiu and Lin Bing-Wei.
Wang continues in men’s singles
In men’s singles, top seed Po-Wei Wang (TPE) put in an impressive display against sixth seed Jia Wei Joel Koh (SGP), winning 21-13, 21-11 in the quarterfinals despite some long, grueling rallies.
All top seeds across the five disciplines remain in the event.
Day 4
Semifinals begin at 1pm. Wang plays compatriot Huang Yu (TPE) in men’s singles. Ramadiansyah/Shimizu and Owen/Somerville are in the mixed doubles, and Somerville/Yu and Shimizu/Griselda are in the women’s doubles.
