[13] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 3-0 Emily Whitlock (WAL) 14-12, 13-11, 11-8 (49m)
Next opponent: Marie Stephan
Satomi : “I’m so relieved. It’s the World Champs, and playing Emily Whitlock in the first round isn’t easy. She’s a former top-15 player. I think her highest ranking is 12, so she definitely has the experience and the skills. I struggled with her lobs and drops. I thought I was well prepared, and I watched her game with how she plays, but she definitely makes it very difficult for me. I’m pleased with my performance today.
“It doesn’t feel like I won in three. The first game was crucial as I was 10-7 down and I came back after that. No one likes to lose but I think today was me being a little bit more patient in the end.
“The shot that she played was amazing – the nick straight up to the wall – and I was trying to get that back and I fell on one of my knees. I think it was a little bit rough on the floor, and I’ve got a blood injury, probably for the first time! I tried to continue at first, but it was hard running, so I had to stop. To come back after that, I had to reset and regroup.”
