YONEX JAPAN OPEN 2009 - Easy for Bao, Ma-Wong crush local hopes

Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli might have been holding their plate shaped trophy upside down during the medal ceremony but that’s about the only thing they did wrong. They denied Japan’s Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna from etching another piece of history – they had already marked their time after being the first Japanese to enter a final for 19 years.

But each time, towards the end of the games, the Chinese showed more efficiency, seemed more eager to kill the shuttles than their opponents, who obviously were feeling pressure. The home support was great with one of the best spectator turn out in this event, but it was just not enough.

Ma Jin, from Hubei and Wang Xiaoli from Jiangsu, managed to take the crucial points for a final 21/19 – 21/18 win. The young pair, who have been playing outside China for just one year, secured on Sunday their 3^rd major title this year after the Malaysian Super Series in January and the Happy Suwon Asian Championships title in Seoul in April.

Bao Chunlai against Taufik Hidayat was the final everyone thought to be the best of the day – apart for the local fans of course. But it wasn’t the case, as the Chinese literally killed any hopes from the Indonesian very early on into the game, when, instead of playing his usual attacking game, he kept the rallies going and avoided giving Taufik any chances to counter attack.

This strategy worked wonders as the former Olympic champion was speechless, looking as if he had no solution throughout the match.

“I had seen Taufik play the previous day and I realised he must have been tired after his three games, and I had decided to go for long rallies instead of attacking all the time,” said Bao.

If Taufik scored the first point of the game, it was to be the first and only time he would be in the lead – Bao then took over and never let go with the lead in the game, even matching Taufik’s usual inspirational net play. The tall Chinese clinched the first game 21/15.

Changing sides, the Indonesian hoped to get a better start, cheered by a small but noisy Indonesian crowd. But once again, Bao opted for a patient game while Taufik was more and more frustrated and trying harder – meaning, also, making more unforced errors.

The Indonesian did show glimpses of his natural talent, but it was just too late and Bao, looking more confident than ever, went for a 16/7 lead. Then, few minutes later, he had his hands up in the air after a final 21/15 – 21/12 victory in 39 minutes.

“I must say that I was very surprised that I could win so easily. I was just trying to make him run the four corners and it worked well today. I actually had more difficulties in this tournament in the first rounds, as after, against Peter Gade and Taufik today, I was able to beat them in straight games. I am thrilled to have won here as, since Lin Dan and Chen Jin were not here, I was feeling a bit of pressure to win this tournament,” added the Chinese.

The women’s singles final was disappointing in the sense that the new star Wang Xin showed very little of the talent she had showed all week, against her elder opponent Wang Yihan.

Maybe the two compatriots know each other so well that shining was not possible for the younger Wang. However, things were settled pretty quickly as it took less than half an hour for Wang Yihan to defeat her compatriot 21/8 – 21/9.

“It’s a good feeling to win here as I did last year. I have gained maturity, speed and stamina since then, but I really wasn’t thinking of winning here,” said Wang Yihan.

“Now, after Xie Xingfang’s retirement, I think that it will give me even more motivation to be in the limelight and be noticed in foreign countries. I will put even more effort into my training,” added the Chinese.

Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan tasted victory again on Sunday, after their tough but reassuring win over younger compatriots Yonathan Dasuki and Rian Sukmawan, Indonesia’s third best pair.

Both pairs opted for an attacking game but experience prevailed in both games as the Olympic and world champions pulled off some amazing tricks to wipe out four game points in the second game when they were trailing 16/20, before finally edging their opponents 21/19 – 24/22.

“We were very fortunate to get back in the second game as they played very well. We were relying on a good fighting spirit and a good communication throughout the match and it helped,” said Markis Kido, whose injuries seem to be behind him.

“We are now 90 % of our top level, I guess,” added Markis. “But of course, we were a bit scared to get back on court as we didn’t know about our level, but once we got into the tournament, things felt better and better,” added Hendra Setiawan.

After the Japan Open title, the duo however have more dreams in the back of their minds : “We want to win the upcoming Yonex All England next year, and the Asian Games,” said Setiawan, before his partner added “and of course, the Thomas Cup”.

Thailand’s Songphon Anugritayawon- Kunchala Voravichitchaikul survivedthe loss of one game to overcome Denmark’s new pair of Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen. The Danes, playing in front of their Ambassador in Tokyo, were very close to nailing their second Super Series title – after Denmark in 2008 – but it wasn’t meant to be, and instead, it was the Thai rookies who scored their best victory ever.

Trailing 15/18 in the decider, the Thais showed some great fighting spirit to get back into the match, while nervousness was shown on the other side of the net. At 19/19 in the decider, suspense was at its peak, but it was first the Thais who got a first match point, which Kunchala wasted on a bad serve.

She’d have a second chance, however, and this time, the Thai duo made sure they’d clinch their first ever victory in a Super Series after reaching the final in Korea earlier this year – they had then beaten the same Danish pair in Seoul.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 9:42 AM. Filed under News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0