Defeated By Akane Yamaguchi, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung Runner Up Malaysia Masters 2023

Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, finallyality won the women's singles Malaysia Maters 2023 after being defeated by Akane Yamaguchi from Japan. (Between/PBSI)

JAKARTA - Gregoria Mariska Tunjung failed to set a record for winning her inaugural Super 500 BWF tournament at the 2023 Malaysia Masters after losing to Akane Yamaguchi in the final round in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Quoted from Antara, Gregoria lost two straight games 17-21, 7-21 after struggling to face the world number one from Japan.

The rally and game of patience dominated the competition between Gregoria and Akane. The Indonesian women's singles had led up to 6-4, but Akane was able to take the lead with six consecutive points.

This result was repeated by Akane by playing slowly, giving a cross pass that Gregoria found difficult to catch up with. Although Gregoria tried hard to catch up, the technique was in fact difficult for her to block.

After the interval, Akane still survives with his strategy of providing cross passes to Gregoria. This strategy is still too effective so it is difficult for Gregoria to break which is increasingly lagging behind by 9-15.

Gregoria had won three consecutive points to tighten the score to 17-18. Unfortunately, Akane, who realized his mistake, immediately accelerated the tempo of the attack which was replied by winning three consecutive points.

Akane won the opening game 21-17 after playing in 19 minutes.

Gregoria looks exhausted in the second game. The only Indonesian representative in the top party could not get out of pressure and was always under control of Akane.

Every blow taken was only in the form of a weak return which Akane quickly grabbed with a smash or a cross trick.

Even Gregoria's deficit of points was too far away when it reached the interval, namely with a score of 2-11.

Gregoria's inferior position did not change until before match point. Gregoria only had time to add five points, including four consecutive points, before finally losing to Akane.

The points obtained by Gregoria were also obtained due to errors created by opponents and returns that came off the line.

In the 34th minute, the Malaysia Masters 2023 women's singles final match was won by Akanedan Gregoria to settle for runner-up in her first BWF Super 500 final.