Miyuu Kihara vs Honoka Hashimoto | WS QF | #WTTAstana 2026

The attack. Don't be surprised if it takes Hashimoto just a little bit of time to get her rhythm tend to see defenders take a little bit more time. Of course, she retrieved that really well. So difficult to know exactly. Here we go. What can Kihara do then to try and get a foothold back in this quarterfinal? Of course, all Japanese affair. So no coaches in the corner for either of these two. Oh, wow. That is why a lot of people say this is what she's done for the past. What 20 odd years. She's used to people attacking. She's used to people trying to maneuver her for Kihara. This is something different. This is a mental workout as well for the attacker. Honestly, I think this is just a Hashimoto is found a rhythm early. She isn't too worried about the power coming away. Impatient or frustrated. Surprise her sometime soon and go all out attack on one again. Wasn't a good enough serve receive. What a wonderful. And this is going push push now. Sidespin. You know when Hanoko Hashimoto. Near bud in and she's listening to the commentary and she says, not just yet. Don't you worry about that. Oh, it caught the back edge, but Kihara got it. Carries long and Hanoko Hashimoto. Big show from Kihara. Tomahawk serve pops up. She's going back to the attacking offense is Kihara. She's playing to the wings a lot when she attacks like that. And by wings, I mean the wide areas all the point early. Big third ball attack to the middle. There's the shot to the middle. Look at the amount. Hanoko Hashimoto's knees. She forces Hashimoto to get the body out the way. You might be able to just cause some balance that you can then fire wide. The martial arts palace. Every Cho is doubled. It's wonderful. Every celebration is worth two. Oh, that's wicked. I definitely didn't. There's the topspin one on the serve and Miyu Kihara is on the board. Miyu Hirano or Satsuki Odo in a wonderful attacking matchup that we're going to see in a few games time here in Astana. Immediately after this one, we've got Team USA's number one Kanak Jha versus the German Dangchu. But this is what for me, Kihara did a lot better. She sent the attacks right at the body and momentum. Five unanswered points now for Kihara. There's the offense, but what Kihara has been really patient, but that was a wonderful. And these are just a little rhythm breakers and she missed it. But Kihara is two points away from sending this to a decider. What I like about Kihara is there's a little bounce after she plays the ball on the feet. See, she plays the ball and then bounce, bounce. She doesn't get locked in place. She's staying loose. But again, she attacks the body. That's wonderful from Kihara. Slow and steady. Hashimoto tried to play the shot from her toes and it would have been easy to panic. It would have been easy to overhear. Try and go for too much power, but she hasn't done that. And again, what a great opportunity it is for all of the women here. That is a world-class point. Oh, that's a crazy shot, but Kihara stays in. Completely flipped on its head. The longer the rally, it favored the defender early in this match. Now it's the opposite way around. Oh, it caught the side. Kihara's not been caught off guard. That's a wonderful point. The Kihara push game as well has been really good. She's not just passively... And then she upped the pace on that one. This has been... That's the width I'm talking about with these pushes. Look. And that seals the deal. Miyu Kihara looked down and out. Thank you.