PV Sindhu won the opening game but could not finish the match.
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Once the initial matches wrapped up at the Swiss Open in Basel, all eyes were on PV Sindhu’s upcoming match in the round of 16. Everyone was excited about the upcoming battle between the veteran champion and the youthful newcomer. Tomoka Miyazaki, a 17-year-old from Osaka, had been making waves in badminton over the past few years.
Facing off against the seasoned pro-Sindhu, the young player was up against one of her most challenging matches at this level. Tomoka Miyazaki, standing at 5 feet 5 inches, truly shone in the match. Sindhu, also on a resurgence during her European tour, enjoys playing in Basel. The arena in Basel is a special place for her, as she won the World Championship there in 2019 and the Swiss Open twice in recent years.
However, on that Thursday night, it was Miyazaki who grabbed the spotlight, coming from behind to win the match against Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, with scores of 16-21, 21-19, 21-16, in a hard-fought 79-minute duel. The following day, Miyazaki continued her impressive run, beating fellow Japanese player Aya Ohori in three games, securing her spot in the semi-finals against Carolina Marin.
Former Indian doubles player Shlok Ramchandran, who saw Miyazaki play at the Spokane Junior World Championships with the US Junior team, was impressed by her. He shared that her quick movements and aggressive style reminded him of other young Japanese players like Akane and Okuhara when they first appeared. Even though she’s still young and developing her physical strength, her potential is clear.
Miyazaki is walking in the footsteps of other Japanese stars. She’s been turning heads since her high school days, winning the Junior World Championships in 2022. The likes of Nozomi Okuhara and Akane Yamaguchi are known for their incredible ability to move around the court, a skill that Miyazaki has taken on. Despite being shorter than Sindhu, her movements across the court are impressive thanks to her quick and strong steps.
Her agility and speed with the racket are notable, and her attacking style is closer to Okuhara, even if she doesn’t yet have the same physical power. While Miyazaki won the Junior World Championships on her first try, she didn’t make it to the podium the following year despite having a chance to clinch it. Her nerves got the best of her, as noted by Indonesian player Chiara Marvella Handoyo.
However, her composure during her match with Sindhu showed that she’s improved in handling high-pressure situations. Miyazaki has quickly proven herself on the senior badminton tour, reaching the finals in two Super 300 events—the Korea Masters and the recent Orleans Masters. Her victory in Orleans propelled her into the world’s top 30 players.
She’s shown promise by challenging Olympic gold medalist Chen Yufei to a close 21-23 match and even winning a game against the renowned Ratchanok Intanon. Although she still needs to develop her stamina to compete consistently at a high level, her potential to become a future star is apparent. Being part of Japan’s top team this year, Miyazaki is certainly on the right path to success.
PV Sindhu’s journey at the 2024 Swiss Open concluded with a defeat to Japan’s 27th-ranked Tomoka Miyazaki in the women’s singles pre-quarterfinals in Basel, Switzerland, on Thursday. Sindhu initially prevailed in the first set but ultimately fell 21-16, 19-21, 16-21 over a grueling 79-minute match. Recently, the world number 11 and double Olympic medalist also experienced an early departure from the All-England Open.
When Miyazaki started against PV Sindhu, it looked like Sindhu was always trying to catch up with Miyazaki’s determined style, a trademark of Japanese players. Miyazaki started slow, adapting to Sindhu’s aggressive play, but she soon got into her stride. She improved a lot during the second and third games, making Sindhu work hard for points, defending well, and using smart net play and quick smash shots.
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