Two-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto was nearly flawless during her short program at the Grand Prix Final on Friday, taking a comfortable lead over Belgium's Loena Hendrickx and Nina Pinzarrone into the free skate. Sakamoto, trying to make it back-to-back titles for Japan after Mai Mihara's title last year, opened with an effortless double axel before landing a triple lutz and a triple flip-triple toe loop. “I want to answer the expectations of those around me, and my own expectations as well,” said Sakamoto, who failed to medal in her two previous appearances at the capstone event to the Grand Prix season.
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