Possibly, ZN/ZYL are in no mood to play for bronze, what's more, ZN still have the MD semifinals to deal with. Understandable, esp for the losing semifinalists who're among the favourites for gold. Come to think of it, why have bronze medal playoff at all, just award two bronzes as in some other OIympic sports. I know for some sports, playoff is not possible as in swimming, but it doesn't cost much to make another bronze medal. Better that than to see one or both bronze contestants performing under par.
Is there any personal problem between Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei? Several months before Olympics, I found some photos of Zhao Yunlei with a man reported as her new boy friend. After that, the relationship between Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei on the court seems cold. In Indonesia Open Zhang Nan didn't use the same towel with Zhao Yunlei as usual and in the press conference, Zhang Nan refused Zhao Yunlei request to sit near her.
I don't like to speculate or gossip on such private matters, sorry, because we don't really know the whole truth so we shouldn't comment nor take sides.
I wouldn't use same towel even we have a relationship with the other. But, they use same towel yesterday FYI.
Then, you should see the match between Kim Gi Jung/Kim Sa Rang vs Fu Hai Feng/Zhang Nan. The Kims shared same towel at that match
