First to step on court, last to leave — Japan’s Tori Aizawa had two opportunities to reach the final round of the YONEX Northern Marianas Open today.
In the men’s doubles, Aizawa and his partner Daisuke Sano overcame a slow start against Korea’s Hyun/Lee to keep their title hopes alive, winning 13-21, 21-12, 21-14.
Later on, Aizawa returned to the court with Hina Osawa for their first international semifinal this year. Their opponents? A pair they knew all too well.
“We knew that [Tamaki] was very good, and that [Ampo] had a very fast smash, but Osawa was there to return the shuttle everywhere,” said Aizawa. “Although we were losing in the second game, we played well enough that we had the chance to return that strength and power.”
Closing a gap in the second game, Aizawa/Osawa defeated compatriots Mutsuki Ampo/Aya Tamaki 21-17, 21-19. In doing so, Aizawa secured his spot in two finals tomorrow.
“This is my first time in two finals,” he added. “It’s going to be difficult, but I am going for two wins.”
Aizawa isn’t the only player to make two finals. Lee Hyeong Woo (KOR) will stand across the court from Aizawa in both finals. This feat comes after he and his partner Jin Sung Ik toppled top seeds Wei Chun Wei/Po Chih Yang (TPE) in the men’s doubles. The pair said their win was the result of continuous adaptation and resilience.
“We tried to play our own way, but it didn’t work very well,” said the Korean duo. “We just kept trying another way, another way, another way to get through. So to win, we are very happy.”
Lee will also play in the mixed doubles alongside Park Seul, who is also in the women’s doubles final.
Elsewhere, Nodoka Sunakawa (JPN) secured her first final in Saipan. The 2025 YONEX Bendigo International women’s singles champion said her finals appearance this year is a result of sharpened focus.
“Last year I lost in the round of 32, this year I was more concentrated on each match,” she explained. “There wasn’t much to think about, just the concentration to win and to not let the shuttle drop on my side of the court.”
Looking ahead to the final, Sunakawa has already begun forming her plan. “Tomorrow I want to win, but I will also focus on just long rallies, do not let the shuttle drop on my side of the court and I just want to enjoy it.”
Other results include:
- Defending women’s singles champion Sakura Masuki (JPN) held off Kaoru Sugiyama (JPN) in a close battle, 22-20, 21-19.
- Miki Kanehiro/Yuna Kato (JPN) showed a strong performance in their 21-14, 21-13 win over Lee Seung Hee/Park Min Ji (KOR).
- Koo Takahashi (JPN) gritted through a close match against Kuo Kuan Lin (TPE) to find himself in tomorrow’s men’s singles final.
