PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2025 | Matsutomo/Shida (JPN) vs. Crasto/Ponnappa (IND) [8] | R32

[@avanpiper]

It's interesting to see a scratch pairing and notice the differences in playing style. It seems Misaki is very committed to guard the front court while Shida is given the role to cover the back court. Shida was really running from one end to the other a lot, covering a lot of space here. This is very different from how Nami and Shida play. Although their favourite formation is Nami in front and Shida at the back, both of them have fast rotational play and able to switch easily. Given this is a scratch pairing, it's a good start and I hope to see more of them. If there's anything I'd love for Shida to learn from Misaki though, it's definitely how to improve her serves lol Also, I noticed Shida is more quiet when playing with her senior. She usually calls out "Nami!" 😂🤭

[@hellostephanie]

Agree. They were able to find their footing in 1st game, considering Matsutomo hasn't played WD in a long while, surely her comfort level with backcourt is not fully there. Majority of time she was doing defensive clears and some smashes and as you noted trying to push forward to the net. However even at the net, she wasn't hunting the shuttle, kept her attack circle radius pretty small. If she was more aggressive at net she could have taken the pressure off Shida having to run around the back and create opportunity to set Shida up more properly to attack.

[@avanpiper]

Yeah, since she's been playing XD for so long now, I think she's more comfortable in front court. On the plus side, we get to see how effective Shida is at backcourt, working hard at what she's good at, power smashes, cross court drops. Even Steen was praising her, which comes rarely 😂

[@hellostephanie]

@avanpiper yes. Glad Shida was super consistent and not making a ton of errors.

[@dukedave7]

33:51 What a WANG Shixian shot!

[@dtdyvr]

always loved Matsutomo and Takahashi, 2016 women's doubles olympic champion.

[@lalashine2019]

The new pair on fire 🔥

[@stevemawer848]

Very poor camera work - hint to director: we want to see the start of "eevry" rally - don't keep showing us replays of the previous point. You seem to have too many cameras and are trying to justify having them. Very poor.

[@dukedave7]

7:46 Steen was mistaken: Chiharu's regular partner is Nami MATSUYAMA, not Mayo...

[@042_joshualoupatty5]

The Queen misaki matsutomo

[@Taengwon_ss]

Matsutomo san i love u

[@jackburtonstwin]

Matsutomo and Shida are playing in a far more asymmetric fashion that Shida is used to with Matsuyama and I am not sure that is really necessary as Matsutomo is a very abe rear court player (while she is outright dangerous anywhere near the net). For a scratch pair this was an excellent and resounding victory for the Japanese girls. They also look like they are both really enjoying the experience and are not burdened by excessive expectations, which is good. BTW, Shida's cross court drop to win the first game was a brilliant shot given she was pulled a little wider than I think she anticipated yet pulled off a shot of such speed and quality that even a player as agile as Crasto could get nowhere near it from a good half court position!

[@avanpiper]

Maybe because Matsutomo's been playing XD for so long, she's so used to guarding front court. I think it's more likely that they haven't been able to train as much together as a pair to get used to rotational play, and to avoid confusion, maybe they decided to divide their roles like this first. It'll probably improve as they play more. It's nice to see them having fun without pressure to win.

[@jackburtonstwin]

@@avanpiper Agreed. A lack of playing time together makes more complex rotational play a challenge. This is not helped by the remarkable way that Shida and Matsuyama are able to do this. Probably better to avoid the comparison and adopt a playing style which works for them. It's not hardship as I really like the relaxed style and variation that Matsutomo demonstrates around the net.

[@chrisliu5353]

New pair on fire 🔥

[@avanpiper]

@@amudhanbakthavathsalu5308 Nami's not playing for two tournaments (Malaysia Open & India Open). After that, she'll resume with Shida. They never specify what injury, they used the term "recovery" I think in the official statement. But Nami did mention in the interview after they won the All Japan Championship last Dec, that she hasn't been able to gain the weight she lost after Olympics and as per the nutritionist advice, I think she's trying to gain back a healthy weight again.

[@amudhanbakthavathsalu5308]

@@avanpiper Thank you for the response

[@markc4058]

Matsu always returned clears then ran to the front ...

[@hellostephanie]

Anyone know who the keychain picture is at 34:29?

[@muiawat]

Fun to see this Japanese scratch pairing

[@furtdrven2512]

Never saw Terminator! Gill!?

[@JLiu-dj7gt]

misaki❤❤❤

[@inghell]

Does anyone know why Shida isn’t playing with Matsuyama?

[@caroledavies272]

Matsuyama is injured, out for a couple of months

[@avanpiper]

Nami's not playing for two tournaments (Malaysia Open & India Open). After that, she'll resume with Shida. They never specify what injury, they used the term "recovery" I think in the official statement. But Nami did mention in the interview after they won the All Japan Championship last Dec, that she hasn't been able to gain the weight she lost after Olympics and as per the nutritionist advice, I think she's trying to gain back a healthy weight again.

[@caroledavies272]

@@avanpiper Gill Clark mentioned a back injury

[@avanpiper]

@@caroledavies272 It's amazing then she was playing up until the AJC last Dec and still won that while enduring the back injury.

[@caroledavies272]

@ I know, that’s why I was surprised to hear it as I thought she was playing as well as ever tbh

[@tuanlengoc7807]

TL mà đánh cái gì chi thắng hạng xoàn ko danh giá gặp An chỉ có thua

[@amudhanbakthavathsalu5308]

why the hell 35 yr old is still playing.. that shows we dont have anyone to even beat them in india circuit and that is why they are still getting to come to these tournaments..

[@amudhanbakthavathsalu5308]

but also tanisha is too big to play doubles. she shd reduce weight.. getting exhausted very soon

[@amudhanbakthavathsalu5308]

matsutomo is 32 but look at her fitness level..

[@YungAntoine]

Hendra Setiawan kept playing when he is 40. whats the big deal, there is no age limit on sport, just physical limiits