Misaki Matsutomo
Japanese badminton player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Misaki Matsutomo (松友 美佐紀, Matsutomo Misaki; born 8 February 1992) is a Japanese badminton player who is a doubles specialist.[2] Alongside her long-time partner Ayaka Takahashi, she secured Japan's first-ever gold medal in badminton at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[3] The victory credited with effectively breaking the prolonged Chinese dominance in the women's doubles discipline.[4] Matsutomo and Takahashi excellence was formally recognized by the Badminton World Federation when they were named the 2017 Female Player of the Year.[5] Reaching the World No. 1 ranking, Matsutomo became renowned for her technical mastery of the front court, utilizing sophisticated net play, rapid interceptions, and precise shuttle placement to dictate the tempo of international matches.[6]
Matsutomo individual honors include several titles, most notably two BWF year-end finals titles in 2014 and 2018.[7][8] Within the continental championships, Matsutomo is a two-time Asian Champion, having secured gold medals in 2016 and 2017.[9][10] Her competitive consistency is further evidenced by two silver medals at the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games,[11] as well a bronze at the 2017 BWF World Championships.[12] At the international team level, Matsutomo has been a cornerstone of the Japanese national squad since her debut. Her contributions were instrumental during Japan's period of global supremacy, highlighted by the team's triumph at the 2018 Uber Cup and a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games team event.[13][14]
Career

In 2016, she won the women's doubles gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[3] She and her women's doubles partner Ayaka Takahashi were also honored with the Female Player of the Year award.[5] They have been playing together for more than ten years, ever since they were schoolmates. Matsutomo and Takahashi became the first non-Chinese pair to win the women's Olympic doubles title since the 1996 Atlanta Games, giving Japan its second medal in the event after Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa won silver at the 2012 London Olympics.
In 2017, in her fifth appearance at the World Championships, Matsutomo finally secured a medal by winning a bronze in the women's doubles with Takahashi.[12][15] Appearing in the deciding match at the 2017 Sudirman Cup, Matsutomo and Takahashi failed to score a point for Japan, so they were eliminated in the semi-finals and settled for a bronze medal.[16]
In 2018, Matsutomo helps the national team to win the Asia Team Championships title.[17]
In 2025, Matsutomo returned to compete in the women's doubles stage partnering Chiharu Shida.[18]
Honours and awards
- Medal with Purple Ribbon awarded by the Emperor of Japan: Individual Sports with Ayaka Takahashi (2016).[19][20]
- BWF Awards: Female Player of the Year with Ayaka Takahashi (2016).[5]
- Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) Sports Award: Excellence Award with Ayaka Takahashi (2016).[21][22]
Achievements
Olympic Games
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Riocentro - Pavilion 4, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
18–21, 21–9, 21–19 | [3] |
World Championships
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland |
17–21, 15–21 | [12][15] |
Asian Games
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea |
15–21, 9–21 | ||||
| 2018 | Istora Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia |
20–22, 20–22 | [11] |
Asian Championships
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China |
18–21, 21–18, 15–21 | ||||
| 2016 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China |
21–13, 21–15 | [9] | |||
| 2017 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China |
21–19, 16–21, 21–10 | [10] | |||
| 2018 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China |
18–21, 21–18, 15–21 | [23] |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China |
17–21, 19–21 |
BWF World Junior Championships
Girls' singles
| Year | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Domo del Code Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico | 13–21, 21–16, 10–21 |
BWF World Tour (6 titles, 8 runners-up)
The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[24] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tour is divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.[25]
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | 21–17, 21–12 | ||||
| 2018 | Malaysia Open | Super 750 | 21–12, 21–12 | [26] | |||
| 2018 | Thailand Open | Super 500 | 13–21, 10–21 | ||||
| 2018 | China Open | Super 1000 | 21–16, 21–12 | ||||
| 2018 | Korea Open | Super 500 | 21–11, 21–18 | [27] | |||
| 2018 | BWF World Tour Finals | World Tour Finals | 21–12, 22–20 | [8] | |||
| 2019 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | 21–19, 21–15 | ||||
| 2019 | German Open | Super 300 | 20–22, 15–21 | ||||
| 2019 | New Zealand Open | Super 300 | 15–21, 18–21 | [28] | |||
| 2019 | Indonesia Open | Super 1000 | 16–21, 18–21 | ||||
| 2019 | China Open | Super 1000 | 14–21, 18–21 | ||||
| 2019 | Korea Masters | Super 300 | 21–15, 17–21, 18–21 | [29] |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | All England Open | Super 1000 | 14–21, 13–21 | [30] | |||
| 2023 | Syed Modi International | Super 300 | 22–20, 19–21, 23–25 | [31] |
BWF Superseries (9 titles, 13 runners-up)
The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[32] was a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels were Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consisted of twelve tournaments around the world that had been introduced since 2011.[33] Successful players were invited to the Superseries Finals, which were held at the end of each year.
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Denmark Open | 8–21, 12–21 | [34] | |||
| 2013 | Malaysia Open | 16–21, 14–21 | ||||
| 2013 | Singapore Open | 19–21, 16–21 | ||||
| 2014 | Malaysia Open | 19–21, 21–14, 13–21 | [35] | |||
| 2014 | Japan Open | 21–13, 21–17 | [36] | |||
| 2014 | Australian Open | 15–21, 9–21 | [37] | |||
| 2014 | Denmark Open | 14–21, 14–21 | [38] | |||
| 2014 | Hong Kong Open | 13–21, 13–21 | [39] | |||
| 2014 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | 21–17, 21–14 | [7] | |||
| 2015 | India Open | 21–19, 21–19 | ||||
| 2015 | Singapore Open | 17–21, 16–21 | [40] | |||
| 2015 | China Open | 21–18, 13–21, 12–21 | ||||
| 2016 | All England Open | 21–10, 21–12 | ||||
| 2016 | India Open | 21–18, 21–18 | ||||
| 2016 | Singapore Open | Walkover | ||||
| 2016 | Indonesia Open | 21–15, 8–21, 21–15 | ||||
| 2016 | Japan Open | 21–19, 18–21, 12–21 | ||||
| 2016 | Denmark Open | 19–21, 21–11, 21–16 | ||||
| 2016 | Dubai World Superseries Finals | 15–21, 21–13, 17–21 | ||||
| 2017 | Singapore Open | 18–21, 21–14, 15–21 | ||||
| 2017 | Australian Open | 21–10, 21–13 | ||||
| 2017 | Japan Open | 21–18, 21–16 |
- BWF Superseries Finals tournament
- BWF Superseries Premier tournament
- BWF Superseries tournament
BWF Grand Prix (6 titles, 2 runners-up)
The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | India Grand Prix | 21–14, 15–21, 21–15 | ||||
| 2011 | Russian Open | 20–22, 18–21 | ||||
| 2012 | U.S. Open | 21–19, 21–17 | [41] | |||
| 2012 | Canada Open | 21–15, 15–21, 21–12 | [42] | |||
| 2012 | Indonesia Grand Prix Gold | 21–12, 12–21, 21–13 | ||||
| 2014 | German Open | 23–21, 24–22 | ||||
| 2016 | Malaysia Masters | 21–18, 22–20 |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | U.S. Open | 13–21, 10–21 | [41] |
- BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
- BWF Grand Prix tournament
BWF International Challenge/Series (2 titles, 4 runners-up)
Women's singles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | North Shore City International | 18–21, 20–22 | [43] | ||
| 2009 | Belgian International | 14–21, 21–14, 16–21 | [44] |
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Belgian International | 21–8, 18–21, 21–13 | [44] | |||
| 2009 | Osaka International | 21–16, 16–21, 24–22 | [45] | |||
| 2010 | Osaka International | 19–21, 16–21 | [46] |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Waikato International | 13–21, 18–21 | [47] |
- BWF International Challenge tournament
- BWF International Series tournament
Performance timeline
- Key
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | A | G | S | B | NH | N/A | DNQ |
National team
- Junior level
| Team event | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Asian Junior Championships | B |
- Senior level
Individual competitions
Junior level
- Girls' singles
| Event | 2010 |
|---|---|
| World Junior Championships | S |
- Mixed doubles
| Event | 2010 |
|---|---|
| World Junior Championships | 2R |
Senior level
Women's singles
| Tournament | BWF Superseries / Grand Prix | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2010 | ||
| Malaysia Masters | A | QF | QF ('10) |
| Australian Open | A | 2R | 2R ('10) |
| Japan Open | 1R | A | 1R ('09) |
| Syed Modi International | 2R | A | 2R ('09) |
| China Masters | 1R | A | 1R ('09) |
| Year-end ranking | 134 | 142 | 58 |
| Tournament | 2009 | 2010 | Best |
Women's doubles
| Tournament | BWF Superseries / Grand Prix | BWF World Tour | Best | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||
| Malaysia Open | A | 1R | 2R | A | F | F | 1R | QF | SF | W | 2R | NH | A | QF | W ('18) | ||||
| India Open | A | 2R | QF | SF | QF | W | W | A | NH | A | 2R | W ('15, '16) | |||||||
| Indonesia Masters | NH | A | W | A | NH | W | W | SF | A | W ('12, '18, '19) | |||||||||
| German Open | A | 2R | QF | SF | W | 2R | SF | A | w/d | F | NH | A | W ('14) | ||||||
| All England Open | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | SF | 1R | W | 2R | QF | 1R | SF | A | W ('16) | |||||
| Swiss Open | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | A | NH | A | 2R ('11, '12) | |||||||||||
| Chinese Taipei Open | A | 1R | A | SF | A | NH | A | SF ('15) | |||||||||||
| Thailand Open | A | NH | A | NH | A | F | QF | A | NH | A | F ('18) | ||||||||
| Malaysia Masters | NH | A | 2R | 1R | A | W | A | QF | SF | QF | NH | A | W ('16) | ||||||
| Singapore Open | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | F | SF | F | F | F | A | 2R | NH | A | F ('13, '15, '16, '17) | |||||
| Indonesia Open | A | 1R | 1R | A | QF | 2R | 2R | W | 1R | SF | F | NH | A | W ('16) | |||||
| U.S. Open | A | 1R | W | A | NH | A | W ('12) | ||||||||||||
| Canada Open | NH | A | W | A | NH | A | W ('12) | ||||||||||||
| Japan Open | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 2R | SF | W | 2R | F | W | 2R | SF | NH | A | W ('14, '17) | ||||
| China Open | A | QF | QF | QF | QF | SF | F | 2R | QF | W | F | NH | A | W ('18) | |||||
| Hong Kong Open | A | 2R | QF | SF | F | QF | QF | 1R | QF | QF | NH | A | F ('14) | ||||||
| China Masters | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | QF | A | SF | 2R | NH | A | SF ('18) | |||||||
| Korea Open | A | QF | 2R | A | QF | QF | w/d | A | SF | W | QF | NH | A | W ('18) | |||||
| Denmark Open | A | 2R | QF | F | SF | F | 2R | W | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | W ('16) | ||||||
| French Open | A | 1R | QF | QF | QF | 2R | SF | QF | QF | 2R | NH | A | SF ('16) | ||||||
| Korea Masters | N/A | A | F | NH | A | F ('19) | |||||||||||||
| Australian Open | N/A | A | QF | QF | QF | A | F | SF | QF | W | A | SF | NH | A | W ('17) | ||||
| Syed Modi International | NH | W | A | NH | A | 1R | A | NH | A | W ('09) | |||||||||
| Superseries / World Tour Finals |
DNQ | RR | RR | W | SF | F | DNQ | W | DNQ | W ('14, '18) | |||||||||
| Dutch Open | A | 1R | A | NH | NA | 1R ('10) | |||||||||||||
| New Zealand Open | A | NH | N/A | NH | A | F | NH | F ('19) | |||||||||||
| Russian Open | A | F | A | NH | F ('11) | ||||||||||||||
| Year-end ranking | 41 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 807 | 671 | — | — | 127 | 1 | |
| Tournament | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Best |
Mixed doubles
| Tournament | BWF Superseries / Grand Prix | BWF World Tour | Best | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | ||
| Malaysia Open | A | 2R | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | 2R | 1R | NH | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | 2R ('11, '18, '23) | |||
| India Open | A | 1R | A | 2R | 1R | QF | A | NH | A | 2R | 2R | A | QF ('15) | |||||
| Indonesia Masters | A | NH | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | SF | 1R | A | SF ('23) | |||||||
| German Open | A | 2R | A | QF | 2R | 1R | A | 2R | NH | 2R | 2R | A | QF ('13) | |||||
| All England Open | 1R | A | 1R | QF | 2R | A | 1R | A | F | QF | QF | 1R | A | F ('21) | ||||
| Swiss Open | 1R | 1R | QF | A | NH | A | 2R | A | QF ('12) | |||||||||
| Thailand Open | NH | A | NH | A | 2R | QF | A | NH | 2R | QF | A | QF ('19, '23) | ||||||
| Malaysia Masters | A | 1R | A | 2R | A | NH | 2R | 2R | A | 2R ('19, '22, '23) | ||||||||
| Singapore Open | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | A | 2R | A | QF | NH | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | A | QF ('19) | ||
| Indonesia Open | A | 2R | A | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 2R | 1R | NH | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | A | 2R ('11, '15, '18, '24) | ||
| Australian Open | A | 2R | SF | A | 1R | A | QF | A | NH | QF | 1R | A | 1R | A | SF ('12) | |||
| U.S. Open | A | 1R | F | A | NH | A | A | F ('12) | ||||||||||
| Canada Open | A | QF | A | NH | A | QF | A | A | QF ('12, '23) | |||||||||
| Japan Open | A | 1R | QF | 1R | SF | 2R | A | 2R | 2R | 1R | NH | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | SF ('14) | |
| China Open | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | QF | 1R | QF | NH | 1R | A | Q | QF ('17, '19) | ||||
| Hong Kong Open | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | QF | NH | 1R | A | SF | SF ('25) | |||
| China Masters | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | NH | 2R | A | 2R ('24) | |||||||
| Korea Open | 1R | A | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | 2R | QF | NH | A | 1R | A | QF ('19) | |||||
| Arctic Open | NH | 1R | A | 1R ('23) | ||||||||||||||
| Denmark Open | 1R | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | 2R | A | 1R | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | 2R ('13, '14, '17, '22) | ||
| French Open | A | 1R | QF | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | A | 1R | NH | 2R | QF | 2R | 2R | A | QF ('13, '22) | ||
| Japan Masters | NH | 1R | A | SF | SF ('25) | |||||||||||||
| Syed Modi International | A | NH | A | NH | A | F | A | F ('23) | ||||||||||
| Dutch Open | QF | A | NH | N/A | QF ('10) | |||||||||||||
| Russian Open | A | SF | A | NH | SF ('11) | |||||||||||||
| Year-end ranking | 132 | 40 | 26 | 19 | 25 | 20 | 260 | 40 | 75 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 32 | 142 | 12 | |
| Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Best |