Japan’s Tanaka dominates the men’s singles final

In today’s men’s singles final, Alwi FARHAN (INA) and Yushi TANAKA (JPN) are locked in an entertaining duel. 20-year-old Farhan, the 2023 Junior World Champion, knocked out top seed LI Shi Feng in yesterday’s semi-final and was therefore aiming to claim the Swiss Open title today.

Yushi Tanaka from Japan has dropped just one set in the tournament this week – on Wednesday, against Switzerland’s Julien Scheiwiller. Today, world No. 20 Tanaka of course wanted to continue this almost flawless run.

At the start of the first set, the two players are locked in a tight contest – neither manage to build a lead of more than a single point. And neither can pull away until the score reaches 18-18, but then Tanaka manages to win a couple of crucial rallies and directly converts his first game point at 20-18 to take the set.

Alwi Farhan, currently ranked 14th in the world, starts the second set under immediate pressure. Tanaka, who, incidentally, had knocked his compatriot and 2023 Swiss Open winner Koki Watanabe out of the tournament in the quarter-finals, gets off to a flying start and is already leading 11-7 at the interval. The Japanese player remains the dominant force thereafter and builds a lead of 20-12. The Indonesian, on the other hand, struggles against the ever so patient Tanaka and is unable to mount a challenge – Tanaka converts his first match point in the second set as well, winning the final 21-18, 21-12 and taking home the title.

Pictured: Alwi Farhan (left), Yushi Tanaka (right)