Friday, 17 May 2024

News | BWF World Tour

It’s been an eventful journey for Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara since their triumph at the All England 2021. However, the road has been rough for the two-time world champions in 2022, with their performances falling below their usual standards. The Japanese duo faced setbacks early in the season due to Nagahara’s Achilles injury, causing them to drop out of the top 10 rankings for the first time since July 2018.

Despite their challenges, Matsumoto and Nagahara remain optimistic and attribute their decline in form to Nagahara’s recent injury troubles. Nagahara expressed her determination to bounce back, stating, “I’m fully recovered and ready to go. Our drop in rankings is due to missed tournaments and facing strong opponents in the early rounds. We aim to secure a top 8 seeding and earn as many ranking points as possible.”

Matsumoto believes they are regaining their rhythm and finds satisfaction in their recent performances, especially in their victory over Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan. This win holds significance as the duo had previously lost to Tan/Muralitharan at the German Open quarterfinals and the French Open 2022, their last final.

While acknowledging that they are not yet at their peak, Matsumoto emphasizes the positive mental state they possess. She states, “Our mental state is good, and as long as we stay positive, we will remain stable.” The duo carries pleasant memories of their triumph at the All England and feels a positive aura on the court in their current matches.

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What Others Said

  • “It’s frustrating to keep losing to Chen Yu Fei, but I’ll learn from it. I feel like a lot of it is mental and tactical. Physically I feel healthy and a lot better than in many years.” – Michelle Li.
  • “Rasmus (Gemke) has played very well lately, and I haven’t. I expected a difficult match, and it was. Winning in straight games was more than I hoped for.” – Anders Antonsen.
  • “We lost in the first round in all our World Tour events so far this year, so it’s nice to win a match.” – Anne Tran, after she and Margot Lambert won the first round.
  • “Every first round is tough, and in this arena, it’s tougher. The conditions are a bit windier than I expected.” – Viktor Axelsen.
  • “I’m happy I showed character to come back into the match,” – Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, after saving two match points against Line Kjaersfeldt.
  • “Coming into this tournament, it’s a totally different experience. But I have good memories from last year, and I love playing in these conditions.” – Lakshya Sen.

FAQs

Q: What caused Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara’s decline in rankings?
A: Nagahara’s recent injuries and missed tournaments contributed to their dip in rankings.

Q: How are Matsumoto and Nagahara working to improve their ranking?
A: They aim to secure a top 8 seeding and earn as many ranking points as possible.

Q: How confident are Matsumoto and Nagahara in their recent performances?
A: Matsumoto believes they are finding their form and emphasizes their positive mental state.

Summary

Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara, two-time world champions in badminton, have experienced a slight setback in their performances. However, they remain determined to overcome obstacles and regain their top form. Nagahara’s recent injuries have impacted their rankings, but they are determined to secure a top 8 seeding and earn valuable ranking points. Matsumoto is confident in their recent performances and highlights their positive mental state as a driving force. With past success at the All England, the duo is motivated to excel in the current tournament. They are focused on their goal and ready to face tough opponents with vigor and determination.

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