Hitomi Sato vs Miyuu Kihara | WS Final | #WTTAstana 2026

Incredible rally, still alive. Each day beating Sakura Yokoi in the final, so she's coming into this on a nine-match streak of wins. Looking at her best in this first game, the former World Youth Champion. Okahara here, looking like the shift. After ten minutes of play in a single game, less than 18 points have been played. I didn't actually know this, but players can request the match to start with the expedite rule. I don't think I've ever seen that happen. Incredible chop from Sato. Off the forehand, Okahara biding her time. Clips the net, but Okahara reacts. Into the middle, but Sato somehow chops back. It's a ticking time bomb, it's a game of hot potato. Backhand topspin from Okahara. Tries to fool Sato with the touch. Nice deep attack, but it's defended effortlessly. Another chop out the middle. Over the table, nice from Okahara. Drops it, slaps it, comes back. Well, someone needs to tell these two that there's places to be for these fans. They were hoping to have dinner tonight, but it might have to be... I think that might be what Okahara's looking for. I think she wants the expedite rule to come into effect. Or maybe she just feels as though this is the best way to play Sato anyway. Too strong for him in that match earlier on in session one. Oh, it's outrageous from Sato. Here she goes again, drop shot. Oh, no way. No! Let's see how aggressive Sato decides to be and when she decides to be aggressive. Tries to attack now. And then again, clever from Okahara, just keeping the ball on the table. Just seeing how it affects the points, the decision making of the players. The serves are alternating now, as you can see. And Sato to try and be aggressive if Okahara just keeps getting the balls back on the table. Sato will be hoping to outlast her anyway with defence, but let's see. Oh, wicked backhand attack. Stunning forehand shot there. Oh, leaping backhand. Hitomi Sato in the T-League recently, in the Japanese league. Straight game to win as well. Look at that, lunging in. Getting it out the crossover. Mesmerising play. These Japanese ladies didn't know how to counter 13 in English. They will do after this. This game makes me feel as though she didn't intend. It wasn't her intention to take it into expedite. Bit of a chop block there from Okahara. She's stepping off the table like she's the defender here, Okahara. Funny moment there to finish. Hybrid player. So many gears to her game. Nice shot there. Oh, wow. Nice drop shot from Okahara. Comes in with the backhand punch off the shallow shot. The sudden bit of extra risk she can punch through the backspin. First time we've seen a shot like that from Okahara. Have to keep your discipline against the defender, don't you? Beautiful striking there. She's going out and out defence, Sato. Drop shot. Oh, she's even got that back. Yeah, there we go. She's won the point anyway. The player who can just create a mirage in front of the attacker. Sato could try and go out and out defence here again. It's out last, Kihara. Slow spin. She has to win it on that point, and she does. Or will she go out and out defence? Can she return? 13 shots. No. What entertainment here for the fans inside the martial arts palace. Drops it. And she's taking it as well. Stakes are high. This game, 8-4 up. And it's a wonderful comeback from Hitomi Sato. Easy pickings. Miu Kihara. It's the first time we've actually seen the players realise it. It did happen before, but they carried on playing and Kihara hit the net. Oh, that's clever. And she's receiving. Crafty, cheeky backhand again. To be fair, it did work before, but she looks a little bit frustrated here. Oh, slips Sato. Another drop shot. Toying with her, Kihara. She has to make an attack. Oh, what a retrieval. She tried to slap it. So many other sports, the variety of styles. The number of ways you can play, even at a higher level. Nice flat hit from Kihara. The serves alternating. It's harder to get into some kind of rhythm. Sato's going out on out defence, but that's... It's a three-time WTT star contender title champion. Unbelievable performance.