Rio Olympic gold medalists Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo reached the final at the Yonex Open Japan on Saturday, setting up a rematch of last month's final against Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark.
The top-seeded Japanese duo downed compatriots Koharu Yonemoto and Shiho Tanaka 21-14, 21-19. Both Takahashi and Matsutomo plowed their way through the first game, but faced a sterner test in the second with Yonemoto and Tanaka beginning to find their feet to force rallies.
After scoring four straight points to tie the game at 9-9, Yonemoto and Tanaka stayed close to restore parity once again at 19-19. But Takahashi and Matsutomo never allowed their opponents to take the lead in the game, closing it in 46 minutes.