R16. Matches that I look forward to. MS. Shon Wan Ho v/s Ajay Jayaram. Even though AJ is seeded much lower, he could take this one if he bends his back and maintains focus. If it goes to the rubber though, AJ is history. WD. Maeda/Suetsuna v/s Duanganong/Kunchala promises to be a thriller. The Japanese top seeds will be looking for revenge, the Thai girls will be looking to stay on top of them. A real cat-fight! MD. Fuzzy v/s Pratama/Saputra. The MAS pair can do this. They have the experience, and the game for it. Although the INA pair are ranked much higher, they appear to have reached the extent of their abilities. Fuzzy can ambush them. WS. Inthanon v/s Wang Lin. All eyes will be on the returning CBA poster-girl, but I'm watching RI. She is the future of WS badminton, and if she plays to potential, this could be pretty one-sided. MS. Boonsak v/s Taufik. For old time's sake! Let the magic flow again. Hopefully...
I was cheering for Sung Ji Hyun when she played against Yao Xue Very tight match taking 3 sets to complete. Yao Xue is a very young and talented player and really have Sung Ji Hyun a tough match - she had to constantly fight her way through to the end and I'm glad she pulled off a win today Another great match was Yip Pui Yin against Chen Shao Chieh Yip Pui Yin played outstandingly today - her energy and motivation was all the way on the top! While Chen didn't really play herself into the match; Yip Pui Yin pressued her throughout the rallies and took every opportunity to smash the shuttle down, which was what she was good at. A very big surprise result for all of us expecting the second seed in the finals.
Yup, especially the part where the Australia Open is one of the biggest events on the circuit, like a Grand Slam event. Hmmm... really?
MS R16 Simon Santoso [3] vs Chan Yan Kit - Simon should beat Chan and probably faces Shon Wan Ho for a place in the last 4 against Chen Jin. Alamsyah Yunus [15] vs Hong Ji Hoon - although Alamsyah is limited in terms of his talent, I like him and he has been performing rather well in beating Sony en route to fulfilling his seeding. He faces a more formidable challenge in Hong Ji Hoon and I hope he can progress to QF. Boonsak Ponsana [12] vs Taufik Hidayat [5] - Taufik's first real match in the Aussie Open. It could be a 3-setter with Taufik edging it. WS R16 Ai Goto vs Aprilia Yuswandari - I do not meant any disrespect to our WS players. But, let's face it, it's difficult to put any hope on them in these days. Not when 2 of them were on the verge of winning their matches (Lindaweni and Firda yesterday) but ended up losing. Familiar storylines eh? For this match, In terms of ranking, Goto is ranked much higher than April, so, it's reasonable for me to think that the Japanese has the edge. MD R16 Patipat Chalardchalaem/Niphiphon Puangpuapech vs Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan [6] - Kido/Hendra to take it. Chen Hung Ling/Lin Yu Lang vs Hendra A. Gunawan/Alvent Yulianto Chandra [4] - a tricky tie for AG/Alvent and I hope they secure the win to ensure 1 INA rep in MD SF. Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari/Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif vs Angga Pratama/Rian Agung Saputro [8] - a tough match for Angga/Rian and I hope they can fulfill their seeding. WD R16 Vita Marissa/Nadya Melati vs Elena Kwok Yee Man/Susan Wang - the INA pair to take this easily. Wong Pei Tty/Chin Ee Hui vs Suci Rizky Andini/Della Destiara Haris - it will be a mark of progress if the INA pair can beat the MAS veterans. Jacqueline Guan/Gronya Sommerville vs Anneke Feinya Agustine/Nitya Krishinda Maheswari - Feinya/Nitya to win. Luo Ying/Luo Yu vs Meiliana Jauhari/Greysia Polii [4] - let's see whether Mel/Grace can beat the duo Luo....who had beaten them in the INA GPG 2010 Final. XD R16 Kenichi Hayakawa/Misaki Matsutomo vs Mohd Rijal/Debby Susanto [6] - Rijal/Debby to fulfill their seeding.
I believe almost every non-CHN players love playing against Gen Gen. But CHN players loathe to be partnered with him.
Prediction for MAS players: MS - Sure bye bye... WS - also gone... MD - only Ah How/Ah Siang survive to QF... WS - hope Aunties and Leng Lui(s) survive too... XD - 50-50 chance
buckle up, everyone! Takuma Ueda squares off against Suppanyu Avihingsanon, and they're toe-to-toe at 1-all in game 1.
At this tournament so far, Takuma Ueda has been a man on a mission - and in a hurry! He toook the first game 21-14, and leads 14-7 in game 2. Meanwhile, Suci/Della squeak past WPT/CEH 21-19 in game 1.
I never saw Suci/Della play........are they really that good ?? so far can drag the experienced Mas wd to rubber ???
