It was a cruel reality check for Miu Hirano as her surging run of form came to a shuddering end in the Japan Open quarterfinals, but the 17-year-old vowed to rebuild her game to again challenge China's top players.
Her straight-games defeat (7-11, 8-11, 5-11, 7-11) to Chen Meng on Saturday came in a surprising manner, as Hirano was beaten while playing her favored fast, attacking style. She believes that not only world No. 5 Chen, but other players from China, the sports' hotbed, have begun to mark her rise.
"I had been winning in rallies but then I was losing them and began to crumble," Hirano said Saturday. "She didn't make mistakes with her serves and returns, she was hitting to the edge during rallies, and finding ways to counter. That is where I have work to do."