Yao Ruixuan vs Satsuki Odo | WS R32 | #WTTAstana 2026

Suzuki Yodo, a 28% win rate against Chinese players. Her best ever win came in Chongqing earlier this year. She beat Wang Manyu. Her contender appearance came in Brazil and she reached the quarterfinal. Suzuki, beaten by her teammate, win. The star contender in Chennai earlier on this season. Barely played any senior events. She did play the contender in Taiyuan, China. Beautiful play. Yodo, a Chinese youngster. So hard. Surprised to see some kind of topspin serve or long serve. She loves serving with a lot of topspin, Suzuki. This could be a little bit more calculated. Yeah, it's too quick. Yodo having an early lunch out here. Playing so well. Good control from Yaori Shinshino. Oh, didn't recover. Edge of the table. Nope, yep. Strawberry push from Yodo. Well played. Throwing in something more unorthodox into the mix. And that was a brave time to pull that off as well. Disrupt her. You don't want Yodo getting into a rhythm, into a flow state. Might be more effective than going for a flick against Yodo. Recovers so quickly. He drove it right into the corner. Yeah, this is her World Cadet Singles Championships defeating Yuhui, Hu Yi, rather, in the fight. Nice forehand there. Right idea. Well played. Well, she beats and she's level. Ooh. Unbelievable steal there from Yao Ruixuan. She was down but not out. Dina Meshref beating Wang Yidi. And Hannah Goddard nearly beating her. 174 in the world. Maybe not even top 20. Maybe just about top 20 in China, like in 2023. These things happen so consistently when the styles of the Japanese, the Koreans, and a lot of the other East Asian countries are fairly similar, right? But it's just bewildering playing to the same level. But each little quirky individual aspect of a player is respected and cherished. And how you stay true to your roots and keep the family the strongest when it comes to that middle ground. What a flick. Excellent pressure. She returned. And she pushes to backhand as well. Oh, well played. She's 2-1 up against the second seed. How surprised are you by this right here? Should we even be surprised? Ooh. See, fighting Satsuki Yodo. And she is a real tussler at the table. Real wrestler. All the time, Satsuki Yodo. But I do feel as though she's predictably forehand. Makes it very difficult for Yodo to play a powerful backhand opener. Oh, and a divisive. Just go along with it. Good choice. Just being a little bit predictably aggressive. Yari Shrain isn't gonna complain. Again, it's the push. That's a great shot. That was a howling net. The Chinese pecking order. Away from the table, Yodo spinning with the backhand. Oh, what a point. Oh my goodness. It might be the rally of the day. Edge of the table on the push from... Oh, a tight effect. Superb. Yodo's save can be the hardest thing to do. Can she do it? Long serve from Yodo. Heavy spin. A rank outsider. World number 174. Top edge of the racket. Doesn't come down on the... Oh! Oh, wow. And Yodo has a game point. But it's saved. Strawberry push. Yodo has taken the game. Table one is Satsuki Yodo. The second seed has survived the scare to force a fifth. Best matches of her career so far. But wants something to show for it. Firepower on the forehand from the 17-year-old. Wisdom to her game. There's a calm to Yao Ruichuan that I really like. It's just due to lack of experience. Yodo is... Strawberry push. Little bit lucky to escape that last game. She just looks a little bit deflated here, Yao. It's two points away. She's done it. The second seed, Satsuki Yodo, survives a scare here in Astana.