Wong WK has chance to take revenge, let's see. It's hard for shuttlers to play well in back to back tournament as last week winners have already out here except TPE MD Liang JW/Lu CP who still keep on track so far. SEMIFINALS (01.00pm, 2 courts) => http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/s...418B46-2F19-4BC6-92F6-27ED919DDC7D&d=20140712 Court 1 should be TV court and will be televised LIVE. Zhang Beiwen is lone survivor for the host and looking good to cruise into last round.
It seems the overall level of world badminton is so competitive nowadays that even at GP level it's not easy for anyone to win back-to-back titles. Not sure if the hard courts at the CAN Open last week has anything to do with it as it should affect all the competitors who played there as well though not necessarily in the same manner depending on the number and type of hard landings each player incurred. A belated congrats to Lee HI and Michelle Li for taking the CAN Open GP crowns. Unfortunately they both are eliminated in the QF this week here, the former, a bit surprisingly, by Wong Wing Ki , the latter , unexpectedly, by Hsu Ya Ching. Hope to see Zhang Beiwen in the final this time but I think Kana Ito will be a serious contender. The MS title may be thrown wide open with the ouster of hot favourite Lee HI but I feel the veteran Viet warrior Nguyen TM might or should be able to fill his shoes.
FINALS (01.00pm local time) => http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/s...418B46-2F19-4BC6-92F6-27ED919DDC7D&d=20140713 1) Maneepong Jongjit/Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA) v Muhammad Rijal/Vita Marissa (INA) 2) Nguyen Tien Minh (VIE) v Chou Tien Chen (TPE) 3) Kana Ito (JPN) v Zhang Beiwen (USA) 4) Puttita Supajirakul /Sapsiree Taerattanachai (THA) v Shendy Puspa Irawati/Vita Marissa (INA) 5) Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen (DEN) v Maneepong Jongjit/Nipitphon Puangpuapech (THA) Well, MS and MD are going to final scenario, first v second seed. Three shuttlers play 2 finals, Vita, Sapsiree and Maneepong. 2013 WC bronze medalist still continue his journey to defend MS title, the Vietnamese will challenge TPE #1 Chou Tien Chen. The unseeded two INA representatives will meet Thai opponent, double specialist Vita Marissa is the key factor for both disciplines. The clear favourite Boe/Mogensen will capitalize this GP Gold tourney to upgrade their WR. One step closer to top honour for home shuttler Zhang Beiwen, will she prevail here?
Sapsiree won singles last year at US Open- is that right? And now she has a chance for WD and XD? The US is very good for her!
Unfortunately a swing and a miss for Maneepong and Sapsiree. But they will still have another chance, while Vita Marissa is a favorite to take home 2 titles.
Quite a poor final between Zhang - Ito unfortunately with Ito never getting into the game. Take nothing away from Beiwen though, very impressive performance.
Double joy for Vita Marissa to win WD & XD title here Zhang BW was very dominant against Ito particularly game 1, Thai MD Jongjit/Puangpuapech stunned strong fave Boe/Mogensen and the veteran Nguyen TM defend his title in thrilling MS final, congrats to all podium finishers!
It's proud that Viet Nam has a player that can win a GPG title. And so sad that that image will not last long as he is 31 now and his style requires high physical strength.
The US Open is a happy hunting ground for NTM who won back to back. Sadly, CM/MB didn't perform to expectations losing to the Thai pair who were seeded below them.
It is pretty difficult to understand the loss for someone who wasn't there for the match, but the Danes seemed testy beforehand, and the U.S. crowd was almost like a home crowd for the Thais. The people behind me supported the Thais and I cheered a lot for them. We loved the Thais for being so humble and approachable.
Interesting.... I spotted Muhammad Rijal was playing with an Adidas racket. Who else has Adidas sponsored from Indonesia?
I'm extremely happy for Zhang Beiwen to be crowned the US Open Queen. This follows her ex-Singapore teammate, Xing Aiying, now prematurely retired due to persistent injuries, who was the WS champion in 2008 I believe. Hope to see Zhang achieve more success in the near future.
Congrats to Zhang Beiwen, Nguyen Tien Minh,and the rest of the winners. ZBW played commendably in the final but only G2 is worth mentioning as Kana Ito was simply out of it in G1. NTM, 31 years old already, as usual ground down his opponents notably in the Semifinal and the Final both of whom are much younger than him at 24 years old, Wong Wing Ki and Chou Tien Chen - apparently they tried to finish the veteran off by continually sharp attacking play but ended up exhausting themselves, particularly obvious in CTC's case in G3.
CTC attacked throughout. My friend pointed out that Tien Minh tried to push down his backhand side increasingly too much, which led to several easy points for Chou Tien Chen.