KUCHING: Third seed Japan came from behind to pull off a minor upset victory over first seed South Korea in the semi-final of ITF World Tennis Junior Team Competition U14 (Boys) Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying held at Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) Centre on Friday evening.
The last four bout lasted for almost 11 hours and a half due to the rain delaying the action in the afternoon which at one point putting the tie in jeopardy of being postponed until the following day where both sides will have to suffer the fate of playing twice if it happens.
Nevertheless, players from both nations stayed on at SLTA Centre to wait for the rain to subside and eventually completed the tie in the end.
Kim Dong Min first took the lead for South Korea in the first singles’ match when he defeated Kensuke Kobayashi by the smallest of margin with 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(3).
Motoharu Abe had other idea as he equalised the scoreline by defeating Kim Won Min next in the second singles’ match by 6-2, 6-4.
The all important third match, a doubles’ action, saw it being delayed due to the rain when it was initially scheduled to start at 3.15pm.
After waiting it out for three and a half hours, the doubles’ match resumes at 6.45pm and Kobayashi along with his compatriot Kanta Watanabe securing the important win over the South Korean pairing of Cho Min Hyuk and Kim Dong Min by 6-2, 3-6, [10-7].
With the win, Japan will move on into the final and will be having a Group B rematch against the dark horse eighth seed Pakistan on Saturday for the championship where the Pakistanis will also be looking for a chance to avenge for their group stage 0-3 loss to the Japanese.
Meanwhile, first seed South Korea will be facing fourth seed Hong Kong for the 3rd/4th places playoffs.
