Taiwanese paddlers Feng Yi-Hsin (???) and Chen Szu-Yu (???) settled for runners-up in the mixed doubles at the WTT Contender Tunis 2022 after conceding a dramatic five-game final to Japanese brother and sister team Tomokazu and Miwa Harimoto in Tunisia on Friday.
Feng and Chen were only able to capture two games out of five against the Harimoto siblings, losing the final 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 10-12, 6-11 in 45 minutes and 20 seconds at indoor sporting arena Salle Omnisport de Radès.
After pocketing games one and three to place itself in the lead, the Taiwanese team was close to ending the match in the fourth game; it had saved three game points to draw level at 10 points a piece.
However, the Japanese siblings overcame their initial weaker start and forced the match into a decider where they captured six consecutive points after being down 5-6 to confirm their status as champions in a dramatic turnaround.
Aged only 19 and 14 respectively, Tomokazu and Miwa Harimoto garnered plenty of attention in the tournament following their 3-1 semifinal win over second seeds Vitor Ishiyand Bruna Takahashi of Brazil.
Before Feng and Chen’s podium finish, the Taiwanese pairing defeated host team Omar Ammous and Fadwa Garci of Tunisia 3-0 in the Round of 16 on Aug. 3; Sibel Altinkaya and Ibrahim Gunduz of Turkey 3-0; and Yuan Wan and Cedric Meissner of Germany 3-1 in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively on Aug. 4.
WTT Contender Tunis 2022 is being held from Aug. 1-6.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel