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Skill with the sword isn't the only important thing, it's speed and reflexes as well. Kirito admitted that Yuuki was faster than him and her reflexes were better. Asuna was also mentioned as being faster then him too though Kirito's reflexes were better.
In any case with the battle Asuna originally started with normal swordsplay as using high end sword skills have a lag moment afterward as they have to allow the system to guide their movements and if the enemy blocks or dodges, (or fails to finish them) they're wide open to a counter. (This was shown distinctly in the previous arc Calibur) Asuna judged it'd be too risky to eat a counter from Yuuki but when Yuuki showed her speed and reflexes in the opening exchange Asuna was forced to adjust and risk using sword skills.
She was seeking an opening to use a big attack on Yuuki which is why she surprised her with an unarmed attack, which caused Yuuki to flinch and leave her open yet she was able to recover in time to block the strikes of Asuna's sword skill and after that Asuna was stuck in a skill lag lock which left her wide open for Yuuki's 11 hit combo, Asuna broke out of the lag in the middle of the combo and used her own combo attack to counter but it wasn't enough to break Yuuki's attack which decided the match.
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