(by Wade Townsend)

Zhang Mo saw a 3-0 lead slip away in her match against Wang Manyu (CHN) in the final preliminary round matches of the Women’s Singles at the Seamaster 2017 World Tour Platinum LION Japan Open.

The Canadian even found herself with a chance to take the match in the fifth, but Wang held her nerves and took the game 12-10. It was smooth-running for Wang from then on, taking the next two games 11-4.

Meanwhile, Saki Mori (JPN) entertained the Japanese fans in a rollercoaster ride of a match against Romania’s Adina Diaconu.

Dioaconu was 2-1 down but leading 10-8. Mori was somehow able to win the next four points and take a 3-1 lead.

It all looked over when Mori herself led 10-8 in the fifth, but this time it was Dioconu who found her way back from the brink, winning four consecutive points.

Romanian coach Viorel Filimon was quickly over to Diaconu’s table after Elizabeta Samara wrapped up her match on the neighbouring court. But the extra support wasn’t enough.

The home crowd favourite took the sixth game 11-8. Keeping to the rollercoaster theme, Mori let out a vehement scream when she secured the win.

With the main draw places decided, checkout the draw for the Women’s Singles.

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