We've all been there. You realize too late that it is the birthday of someone important in your life. Perhaps you are on the road, or it is a weekend, a holiday, or any combination thereof. For whatever reason, there is no way to surreptitiously buy and gift-wrap something seemingly heartfelt and meticulously planned. Unless you are in a beta test market for drone delivery, not even Amazon Prime can save you now. Such was the situation facing Hina Hayata (pictured) this week. Competing in the WTT Star Contender Doha 2021, Hayata was 7500 miles from her hometown of Fukuoka, Japan. For an added degree of difficulty, it was her coach's birthday. Ranked sixth domestically, the southpaw Hayata won the 2020 Japanese national championship, upsetting Mima Ito and Kasumi Ishikawa. The world #27, Hiyata quickly ensured a profitable margin in Doha, winning the first title of the event in mixed doubles with countryman Shunsuke Togami. Already playing with house money, Hayata entered the women's singles once again seeded sixth. In her way stood such title favorites as world #14 Jeon Jihee of South Korea, the top seed, and world #15 Doo Hoi Kem of Hong Kong in close pursuit. Playing in the top half of the draw, Hayata ran into the top-seeded Jeon Jihee in the semis. Jeon appeared destined for a title shot, racing to a 3-0 lead, before Hayata rewrote the narrative. With four straight games, Hayata stunned Jeon to earn a spot in the finals. There, Hayata met Doo Hoi Kem, who had dutifully conformed to the expectations of oddsmakers, only seriously challenged by her compatriot Lee Ho Ching in the round of 16. The championship match pitted the steady blocking and counterdriving of Doo Hoi Kem against the more dynamic, two-winged loop attack of Hayata. Somewhat anticlimactically, Hayata dominated throughout, punctuating the 4-1 win with a stylish inside-out forehand smash. "In the semi-finals, I was 0-3 down against Jeon Jihee," described Hayata. "It was very difficult, but I managed to turn it around 4-3. I’m also very happy to beat Doo Hoi Kem as she’s a really good player. I hope this is a good birthday present for my coach!" Far from the familiar retail outlets of home, Hayata made a hand-crafted gift she and her coach could both enjoy.