AFP, Tokyo :
Local star Akane Yamaguchi beat former world number one Wang Shixian of China in the Japan Open Saturday, setting the stage for an all-Japan women’s singles final on Sunday.
Yamaguchi, who ousted London Olympic gold medallist China’s Li Xuerui from the tournament the previous day, defeated seventh-seeded Wang 21-12, 15-21, 26-24 in the seesaw semi-final.
Yamaguchi, also the winner of the Japan Open in 2013, will now face Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara in the final on Sunday, who downed Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan 21-12, 14-21, 21-19 in the semi-final on Saturday.
In the men’s singles field, two-time Olympic gold-medallist and five-time world champion Lin Dan swept aside Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia 21-17, 21-17 in the semi-final.
