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Japans Suzuki sends a strong statement with win at Cup of China
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Cup of China gold medalist Akiko Suzuki
(JPN) skated one of the strongest free skates
of the season so far.
Photo: AP/Elizabeth Dalziel
Akiko Suzuki became the third Grand Prix ladies gold medalist of the season with a surprise victory at Cup of China. After a number of solid performances turned in by the ladies in the short program, the free skate was a different story, with mistakes from all but two of the ladies. Two of the top five in the world were competing in Beijing, but they turned out to not even be an obstacle in the way of an easy victory for Suzuki, who was competing in only her second Grand Prix event.
Fourth at last year’s Japanese Nationals, Suzuki showed that she will be a factor in the Olympic team selection in Japan with a confident and solid free skate. Her six-triple performance was only slightly marred by negative Grades of Execution (GOE) as a result of a wrong-edge takeoff on her two triple lutzes. Skating to West Side Story, her energy, power, and the sureness of her edges combined with her strong jumps to give her a score of 117.14, the third highest free skate score of the season. Her total of 176.66 was the second highest total thus far, putting her above the totals posted this season by teammates Mao Asada, Miki Ando, and Yukari Nakano.
Normally a stronger short program skater, Finnish champion Kiira Korpi held on to her second place standing in the free skate, giving her her first Grand Prix medal. Unlike the other ladies, Korpi only had three unique triples in her program, but she was able to take advantage of the mistakes made by the other ladies to maintain her standing with a three-triple free skate. Her free skate score of 102.07 gave her a total of 163.27, putting her on the above third place by only 0.09.
Skating last in the first flight of skaters, World silver medalist Joannie Rochette turned in a solid performance that featured six triples, with her only major mistake being a fall and a downgrade of the start of a double axel sequence. Her free skate score of 111.06 was good enough to pull her up from seventh after the short to capture the bronze. Having been in the first flight was likely the difference between the bronze and the silver medals, with Rochette’s overall performance in Beijing being stronger than that of Korpi.
Two-time U.S. silver medalist Rachael Flatt had problems with her normally solid jumps, with mistakes on both lutzes and her second flip. With only three clean triples, her free skate score of 98.91 was not up to her usual standard, but she was able to pull up to fourth overall, immediately behind Rochette.
2008 U.S. champion Mirai Nagasu seemed solid on all of her jumping passes with the exception of a botched triple loop attempt, which she bailed out on halfway through and fell. But underrotation continues to bog her down at Cup of China, with four of her triples and one double jump being downgraded. She has shown that the non-technical goods to be competitive with the top ladies in the world, and she will be looking to gain some traction on her jumps as Nationals approaches.
After a clean short program, 2008 World silver medalist Carolina Kostner had major errors on three of her jumping passes, landing only two clean triple jumps. Her Bach and Vivaldi free skate was uninspired, without the excitement that she is capable of generating with her quickness across the ice. A few of her jumps have gone through some technical adjustment, and it seems to be too soon for her to have all of her technique straightened out.
Three-time World medalist Fumie Suguri was unable to shake off her poor skate at Finlandia Trophy a few weeks ago, making a few errors in her free skate and receiving downgrades on three of her jumping passes. She has not seemed to have found her comfort zone yet this season, as even her normally dependable flip and lutz have been elusive for her. Her 90.53 put her in seventh place overall.
Surprisingly enough, the only other clean performance was from Canadian Diane Szmiett, who boasted a six-triple free skate that was judged fourth best of the day, with negative GOE for the wrong-edge takeoff on her triple flip. But she had too much ground to make up after the short program, and she finished in eighth place.
The other American entry in the ladies event, Beatrisa Liang, had a better free skate showing than she did in early October at the Japan Open. But like many other ladies, she could not escape the underrotation downgrades. She finished her in tenth place overall.
LADIES (final standings)
1. Akiko Suzuki JPN – 176.66
2. Kiira Korpi FIN – 163.27
3. Joannie Rochette CAN – 163.18
4. Rachael Flatt USA – 157.71
5. Mirai Nagasu USA – 155.38
6. Carolina Kostner ITA – 154.18
7. Fumie Suguri JPN – 145.99
8. Diane Szmiett CAN – 144.28
9. Yan Liu CHN – 132.80
10. Beatrisa Liang USA – 131.39
11. Bingwa Geng CHN – 121.20
Binshu Xu CHN - withdrew
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