Tomoka Miyazaki: “It’s Just Pure Joy” — Japanese Star Defies Home Favorite Wang Zhi Yi to Reach China Masters Final
In a display of nerves of steel, Japanese sensation Tomoka Miyazaki produced a spectacular upset on Saturday, clawing back from the brink of defeat to sink home crowd favorite and second seed Wang Zhiyi 21-19, 23-21 at the Li-Ning China Masters 2026.
The victory punches Miyazaki’s ticket to the second major final of her career and marks a breakthrough milestone: her first-ever victory against the Chinese star after losing their previous encounters, including the 2024 China Open final.
“It’s just pure joy and happiness,” a radiant Miyazaki reflected post-match.
Turning Soul-Searching Into On-Court Steel
For much of the opening game, Wang seemed poised to take control, building a comfortable 19-15 advantage. However, Miyazaki launched a devastating six-point run to snatch the opening game out of nowhere.
The drama heightened in the second set as Wang pushed the Japanese star to the limit. Facing match points at both 20-19 and 21-20, Miyazaki stood firm, wiping away both opportunities before closing out the straight-sets shocker.
The world No. 4 pointed to her recent last-16 exit to Michelle Li at the World Championships in India as the catalyst for her new mental fortitude.
“After India, I took some time to reflect on where I fell short and how I could improve,” Miyazaki explained. “Today, the key to winning was my unwavering determination, which came from those reflections on my strengths and weaknesses.”
Wang offered no excuses for the defeat, praising her opponent’s tactical dominance: “She was faster and controlled the tempo better. She played really well.”
The Ultimate Test Awaits
Standing between Miyazaki and the China Masters crown is the ultimate hurdle in modern women’s singles: top seed An Se-young.
The Korean world No. 1 advanced to the final after dispatching Akane Yamaguchi 21-13, 21-15 in the day’s earlier semifinal, extending a dominant 2026 campaign that has seen her suffer just a single loss all year.
Miyazaki enters Sunday’s title match seeking her first win against An, who holds a 7-0 head-to-head record over the rising Japanese star.
