Aa knows he can't afford to rally with Chen Long by keeping the shuttle down at every instance but CL is wiser to it, anticipating his x-ct smash, the final one for the net return almost out of AA's reach who desperately lifted wide
No smashing when moving backwards. Thats the golden rule that AA broke on the last point. CL only had to block a poor smash from a perfect lift.
Well a CL-LCW final would be their first meeting since the Rio final IIRC. Would be interesting. Anyway that's that for the afternoon session. Hope the evening session has better matches. That TTY-SJH match bored me to death.
Besides, Chen Long's superb retrieving ability , including dive retrievals and recovering from it quickly, is something all attacking players feel they have to go for the lines with tight margins or else it's going to come back with interest. I believe any opponent who smashes against Chen Long cannot be too confident about it, they can only just do it and hope for the best. Playing long rallies with Chen Long is worse, may be even suicidal, if you don't have the physicality for it, skills notwithstanding.
If Chen Long had played a bit smarter and less stubborn (all those predictable lifting, esp in G2), he'd have won it in two straight sets.
The year-end SS Grand Finale will be diminished without Chen Long in it, thank goodness, he'll be there.
Yeah, it's been a long time since CL and LCW met, considered a dream final in my opinion; time for a refresher course in case they clash in the final of a major event in future. Unless Shi Yuqi spoils the party for them , of course, not likely I think as LCW is in fine form here.
