Indonesian badminton mixed doubles Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati had to stop in the first round of the 2024 French Open after losing to second seeds Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino.
Competing at the Porte De La Chapelle Arena, Paris, France, Wednesday (6/3), Rehan/Lisa lost to the Japanese representatives with a score of 21-14, 15-21 and 14-21, even though they gave maximum resistance.
“We have tried our best, we have given our maximum, but we have to admit that we lost to our opponents. After this, our focus remains on the tournament ahead, we don’t want to think too far ahead,” said Lisa in an official statement from PP PBSI, Wednesday (6/3).
Rehan/Lisa appeared dominant in the first game. The strategy they implemented went smoothly until they were able to steal the first game. However, their playing pattern seemed to read Watanabe/Higashino in the second game.
Having fallen behind in the second game, Rehan/Lisa were able to catch up until they equalized. However, Watanabe/Higashino were able to block Indonesia’s double resistance to force the match into a deciding game.
In the third game, Rehan/Lisa fell behind so far that they had to concede the game of the second seed from Japan who finally won.
Also read: Rehan/Lisa Advance to 2024 German Open Semifinals
“In the first game, we immediately implemented the pattern that we had prepared. Playing fast and pressing, it made the opponent quite surprised. In the second and third games they were able to read the pattern and we were put under pressure again. We were in a rush and ended up making a lot of our own mistakes ,” said Rehan.
“We learned how opponents can get out of pressure like that. How those who don’t feel comfortable playing at the start can turn things around,” he continued.
Before competing at the 2024 French Open, Rehan/Lisa managed to secure a place in the 2024 German Open semifinals last weekend. Unfortunately, they also had to fail in the top four after losing to second seeds from South Korea Kim Won Ho/Jeong Na Eun. (Ant/Z-1)
#Rehan #Naufal #KusharjantoLisa #Ayu #Kusumawati #Admit #Performed #Maximum #Eliminated #French #Open