He Zhuojia narrowly fell 2-3 to Hina Hayata (12-10, 16-18, 11-7, 7-11, 11-13), despite twice holding the upper hand.
Ranked world No. 40 at age 27, He entered the match as the underdog but carried quiet confidence, having previously stunned top Japanese opposition and serving as a key sparring partner for China’s elite players. Expectations were high — and she nearly delivered a headline upset.
The pivotal moment came in the second game. He surged to a commanding 9-2 lead and reached game point at 10-5. A victory there would have given her a 2-0 cushion and placed immense pressure on Hayata. Instead, unforced errors crept in, allowing the Japanese star to claw back point by point. After an extended deuce battle, Hayata edged it 18-16, completely shifting the momentum.
The deciding game was equally gripping. Trailing 7-10, He demonstrated remarkable resilience by saving three match points and even turning the tables to earn a match point of her own at 11-10. Yet once again, experience proved decisive. Hayata held firm under pressure, capturing the final two points to escape 13-11.
When He secured game point in the opener at 11-10, her fierce determination was unmistakable — a glimpse of a potential giant-killing moment. Ultimately, the margin between triumph and heartbreak proved razor-thin. Particularly painful was the seven-point advantage squandered in Game 2, a turning point that defined the match. Despite the defeat, He Zhuojia’s performance reaffirmed her ability to challenge the world’s best.
