India Open: First Milestone for New Pair

It’s early days in their partnership, but the signs are good for Ayako Sakuramoto and Arisa Igarashi. The newly-formed pair achieved a formidable feat in taking down Olympic silver medallists Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning in straight games to make the semifinals of the YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2025.

The two are in only their third tournament, having come together in November for the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2024, where they had to start in qualifying. They couldn’t have foreseen a better start for 2025, as they held off world No.9 Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand Pullela in the opening round before going on to face world No.2 Liu/Tan.

Arisa Igarashi & Ayako Sakuramoto

The Chinese have made at least the semifinals of 14 of their last 16 tournaments; their last quarterfinal exit was at the VICTOR China Open in September. The unfazed Japanese could depend on Igarashi’s aggressive jump-smashing game and Sakuramoto’s left-handed angles to keep the pressure on the Chinese, who eventually caved in 21-15 21-19.

“We are a new pair, we have played few matches together,” said Sakuramoto. “That we beat a pair that’s seeded higher is very meaningful to us.”

Igarashi’s aggressive style, she said, had made it difficult for their opponents.

“There are not a lot of women’s doubles players who are as aggressive and jump smashing as Arisa, so that’s our strength.”

Arisa Igarashi, formerly Arisa Higashino, said she had to adjust to the different rhythm of women’s doubles compared to her earlier speciality in mixed doubles.

“The speed is different. In mixed doubles you need to keep a high pace all the time, but in women’s doubles there are times when you have to slow it down, and at other times you speed up.

“We haven’t had time together, and we haven’t practiced together. Today a lot was about luck.”

WHAT OTHERS SAID

“I’m not at all at my fittest… my best preparations before this has been very bad. So every single match is a bonus for me, and today, playing Loh Kean Yew, I didn’t have high expectations. It was an intense match.” – Viktor Axelsen

“For me it was a very difficult match. I don’t like the rhythm of the Japanese guys, it was difficult for me to start the match, so I was a bit slow with my energy and also my mental side. It was a fight with my brain today.” – Thom Gicquel 

“My physical trainer said my body has changed a great deal over the last year, but I still don’t feel powerful in my upper body, so I want to work on building my upper body strength.” – Tomoka Miyazaki

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