BWF WORLD SUPER SERIES - DENMARK OPEN 2009: Jorgensen stuns Gade, Guru's run ends

For so long the undisputed No 1 in Denmark, got off to a worst possible start, losing the first game easily 21/7 and looked set to become another statistic in Gade’s long list of conquests.

But Jorgensen, who was looking for this match ever since he saw the draw, was no man to let go so easily and took the opportunity of having the wind on his side to control the rallies and put his elder opponent under pressure.

Jorgensen was progressing while Gade seemed to have more difficulties to kill the shuttles, Jorgensen’s defenses were getting sharper and the younger Dane, wearing red, was clever enough to keep Gade away from the net and kept the shuttles flat to clinch a memorable win.

“I knew that if I could get the second game I would then have the chance to do well in the third. And I did,” said Jorgensen after his 7/21 – 21/17 – 21/16 win.

“It’s an amazing win. It beats everything. It was the same type of feeling when I had beaten him in Indonesia last time, but this time is ever stronger. It’s really a surprise for me as I usually don’t play so well against Peter in Denmark.

“I never beat him in practice as I am not able to push myself so hard in training, which I should learn to do. It just feels great now. I have gained a lot of confidence lately, especially after my good wins in the world championships against strong players like Boonsak (Ponsana) and Park (Sung Hwan).”

For Gade, it was just about lacking the energy. “I started out the way I wanted, as I expected but then, in the second and third, he worked hard for his points and played really well. As for myself, I lacked the energy in the second and third game, I don’t know why. But Jan is a good player and it’s good that he is able to beat me – it would be good also if he can push himself that much in practice,” said the disappointed Dane.

There was another racket thrown in the public on Friday : Marc Zwiebler’s. The German stroked one more time. After Wong Choong Hann and Hafiz Hashim, his next victim was to be Chen Long, known in China for being the “next Lin Dan”.

Way calmer than usual, the German – once told by the doctors that he could not play high level competition again because of a back problem- took his chances and played a superb game of badminton, for a 21/16 – 21/13 success.

“I had certainly not expected such a quick victory. It’s a great achievement for me. Not only this win, but to have been able to beat three opponents back to back like this. Two years ago, after my back injury, I had to stay in bed for few months. I was told I had to forget about badminton, and I accepted it.

“I knew I wouldn’t be able to play high level again, and I started studying Economics and trying to live a normal life. But then, it’s when you miss something that much that you realise what your life was all about. I started missing badminton and played once or twice a week. And then, I started enjoying myself and realising how lucky I was to be able to come back. It’s changed my whole perspective of the game itself.”

Jorgensen and Zwiebler will take on the Indonesians Simon Santoso and Sony Dwi Kuncoro, who both beat their respective opponents from India. R.M.V Gurusaidutt’s fairy tale ended but he will surely be back in the limelight soon. Chetan Anand bowed to Dwi Kuncoro in two games.

Eriko Hirose stunned Saina Nehwal on Friday night to enter the semi-final of the Denmark Open to meet China’s Wang Yihan, while Danish heroes came unscathed.

The Japanese beat Saina Nehwal in the fastest matter, in a quick 21/10 – 21/12. Never was the Indian able to dominate the game, very quick on her feet, very stable, very dynamic and always dominating the rallies.

She also was injured most of past year with a muscle injury in the upper thigh that would not just go away. “I feel better now. I think I can still improve on things but I certainly didn’t expect to win so easily tonight. I had beaten her once in the Philippines Open but she’s gotten a lot better since then,” said the soft spoken girl. She will take on Wang Yihan, who beat Hirose’s compatriot Ai Goto in two long games.

Tine Rasmussen led the Danish charge early on for what was to be a good night of wins for the locals. She scooped her semi-final ticket against Adriyanti Firdasari who did take a game from her and will play Netherlands’ Yao Jie.

Then, it was Joachim Fischer-Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen who scooped a semi-final spot for Denmark. Then again, two pairs from home soil will be in Saturday’s semi-finals. Lena Frier and Kamilla Rytter Juhl were filled with joy after their victory over Japan’s top pair of Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna – one of the best matches of the day with a final victory 21/19 in the third which saw Lena jump into Kamilla’s arms few minutes before Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen secured the only men’s doubles spot in the semi–finals.

Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen were beaten easily by Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong while Anders Kristiansen and Kasper Henriksen bowed to China’s Tao Jiaming and Sun Junjie in another three games match.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 12:34 PM. Filed under News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0