Wang Yidi vs Hitomi Sato | WS SF | #WTTAstana 2026

Starts with the serves. Look at the start to this one here. Whether she has enough power to break down Sato. We know that she does. But can she get the blend right of control and aggression? For me, it's about her push play. Can she withstand the variations of Sato? World Youth Champion from China yesterday. Touching from Yidi. Touches the net. It's a variation of Sato, but Yidi looking at the United States smash, and she didn't even drop a game, the defender. Yeah, there we go. And that makes it hard for the attacking player to produce a quality touch or push back. For a second, that chop was going to go along, but it didn't. Sato's getting into her groove here, you can just tell. And the backhand chops from the forehand side. The defender recovering that one. Oh, and it just goes wide. Beautiful angle. Awesome from Yidi. The game that fluctuated. Wang Yidi, she was involved there in the doubles. You normally only see higher toss backhand serves from defenders. Oh, yeah. Defenders usually aren't looking to attack on third balls, so they like to be square to the table, ready for the chops. Oh, what a point. Oh, nice push from Yidi. Oh, this is world class, but she just couldn't recover to play that second. It's Li Qin Yang of China takes on former European champion Dan Cho. Real surprise package, that youngster gliding, fluttering around the court. Yidi playing really well here as well. Clips the net. Oh, she gets it back, Sato. Oh, and Wang Yidi misses. Chinese A-lister, because you know they're few and far between. And you know how clinical they are when they get theirs. Oh, comes over the table nicely, Wang Yidi, then she slaps home. Jaw dropping. Oh, the lob from Sato, beautiful. Oh, that's an awkward ball for Wang Yidi. Sidespin on it. Oh, look at the curve on it. Here in game two. Higher toss serve. That can attack. Just clips the net, but Sato gets it back. Sidespin shot from Sato there. Off the bounce from Yidi. Oh, she is so good and Yidi knows it. Sato's well back here, chopping from near the barrier. Oh, it's heroic play. Off the bounce from Wang Yidi, Sato still gets it back. Oh, and she celebrates Yidi. Sato has a respectable win rate against Chinese players, 31 percent. Oh, you've got to be prepared to maybe play a block or a counter. Once you've played that attack, it's going to be very difficult to play a chop. You can just see it there. Spring sponge effect, the catapult effect. So the fact that they're able to caress the ball requires such an understanding of spin. That was the right opportunity to attack. She recovers Sato, but Wang Yidi then pins her. How to attack graciously, gracefully. OK, there's a variation from Sato. Make Yidi think that there's going to be a bit of sidespin and it could be attackable when it is actually a ball that she needs to lift. She read that one, Yidi. Oh, yeah. Out the middle, brilliantly. Easy block there for Yidi, but look at the in and out transitions. Oh, yeah. Oh, wow, that's amazing. Has to really try and take this. So shallow, but yet the smash comes back. Oh, spanking the ball, Yidi. Outrageous. The easier that she missed. Third game point for Japan. Sato comes in for the punch that's been so effective this game. Oh, it's another classic exchange that's concluded. Think about the precision. Think about the odds of someone being able to hit the edge of the table from that position. And she's taken the game. It's kind of fish it back with the forehand. Caress it back rather than chop. Yeah, that's too hot to handle from Yidi. Let's have a 60% win rate against choppers, Yidi. Playing the long game. Unless she gets a really clear cut attacking opportunity. She wants to try and construct it. Clever long serve. Sato defending quite close to the table here. She's going to try and find an attack eventually. Didn't need to. Loading these balls. Oh, and it catches the net. Sato with a hat-trick of points. My goodness. Somehow it's wiggled its way out of trouble. Ain't all. Big choke from Hitomi Sato. Listen to the edge of the table. Edge of the table from Hitomi Sato. These players have to play two matches, semis and finals. Both play today. And Wang Yidi has the doubles as well. She'll have the mixed doubles final. It's the first time in. Wow. Nice modification from Yidi. Just skidded out in front of Sato. Where is she? Sato off screen by a point once more. At the change of ends. Backhand attack, forehand attack. Look at the footwork. Change of pace from Yidi. Drops it short. Look at the contortion in the body from Sato. And the forehand goes long again. Gets almost everything back. Good for Yidi. Off the bounce. Changes direction. Stretching Sato. What a tenacious turnaround from Hitomi Sato. Down but not out. Two games to look down. Facing a match point.