Indonesia has secured two representatives in the Japan Open 2026 semifinals after men’s doubles pair Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and women’s singles player Putri Kusuma Wardani claimed victories in the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Friday, July 17.
Putri became the first Indonesian player to book a place in the semifinals after producing a stunning upset by defeating China’s second seed, Wang Zhi Yi, in a hard-fought three-game match, 9-21, 21-17, 21-4.
Meanwhile, second-seeded Fajar/Fikri advanced to the last four after overcoming England’s Ben Lane/Sean Vendy in straight games, 22-20, 21-13.
For Putri, the victory was especially significant as it marked her first-ever win over Wang Zhi Yi. In their previous seven meetings, Putri had always fallen short, although she had managed to take a game on several occasions.
“Alhamdulillah, I’m relieved because I finally managed to beat Wang Zhi Yi. Previously, the best I could do was win one game before losing the decider. Being able to win today makes me very happy,” she said.
Putri admitted she was under pressure in the opening game due to Wang’s aggressive style of play. However, advice from her coach to raise the intensity of her game proved to be the turning point that helped her recover in the next two games.
“At the start of the second game, I tried to match her level. My coach reminded me to keep increasing the intensity. I focused on following that advice without thinking too much about the result. Gradually, I found my rhythm and was eventually able to take control,” she said.
According to Putri, maintaining concentration was the most important factor in defeating one of the world’s top players.
“I couldn’t afford to lose focus, even for a moment. I kept fighting despite how physically demanding the match was. This result is very important as I prepare for the next match,” she added.
In the semifinals, Putri will face another tough challenge when she takes on home favorite Akane Yamaguchi.
“I have to stay focused and be more confident. Playing against Akane on her home court certainly won’t be easy, but today’s victory gives me extra motivation,” she said.
Meanwhile, the men’s doubles victory was far from straightforward.
Fajar and Fikri struggled to cope with their opponents’ fast-paced game early in the match but managed to turn things around after changing their tactical approach following the first-game interval.
Fajar admitted that the Indonesian pair initially employed the wrong strategy, making it difficult to develop their own game.
“They surprised us because they played at a very high pace and forced many long rallies. We used the wrong strategy at the beginning of the first game. After the interval, we immediately switched to a more aggressive approach with faster attacks, and it worked,” he said.
In the semifinals, Fajar/Fikri will face Japanese pair Hoki Takahashi/Yugo Kobayashi.
The two pairs last met in the 2025 Denmark Open final, where the Japanese duo emerged victorious after a closely contested match.
Fikri believes the upcoming semifinal will be evenly matched despite the home pair enjoying strong support from the local crowd.
“They are a very strong pair and never easy to play against. But our chances are equal. The important thing is that we don’t lose our fighting spirit because they will certainly be highly motivated playing in front of their home supporters,” he concluded.***
