Despite ultimately winning in three games, 13-21, 22-20, 21-16, Jafar/Felisha had to work hard to break out of their opponent's aggressive playing style, especially after the first game interval. The windy conditions inside the arena and the intense pressure made it difficult for the Indonesian pair to develop their game.
"In the first game after the interval, they played fast, and we lost the game. They kept pressing, and we were at a loss for how to break out of that pattern," said Jafar after the match.
According to Jafar, this situation made communication on the pitch quite difficult. He admitted to having a firm conversation with Felisha about managing the tempo and positioning of the game so she wouldn't be constantly pressured by the opponent's attacking speed.
"I was quite stern with Felisha about the tempo. I asked her not to back off too much and to play lower. The opponent had male players with very quick connection skills," said Jafar.
