Japan Open 2006: FINALS (15/10)

[woodenRacket]

-then won in straight sets against LCW in the Semis in JO but
-then was just overcame with "fear" against LD?!?!, after winning the 1st set and gave a good fight in the 2nd set??..hmm..

Because he sadly realized the truth: now he cannot compete LD any more even when he played his aXX off

 

[bananaboy]

Hey, actually LCW wasn't in good form during the WC in madrid and also in Japan. He made ways too many errors and Taufik himself was surprisd too that he can win so easily.I think LCW has peaked before the WC.

So... BCL beat LCW in WC was because LCW not in form and also LYB, but when LCW beat BCL then it was the right result... dude, LCW fans remind me of TH fans.

WOW...How did you know Taufik was "Surprised", too??? I would bet even if Taufik was surprised, he wasn't quite as surprised as Lin Dan today.

 

[Malaysianfan]

So... BCL beat LCW in WC was because LCW not in form and also LYB, but when LCW beat BCL then it was the right result... dude, LCW fans remind me of TH fans.

WOW...How did you know Taufik was "Surprised", too??? I would bet even if Taufik was surprised, he wasn't quite as surprised as Lin Dan today.

I am not saying that BCL bet LCW because he wasn't in good form. Of course BCL played well in Madrid. Even when LCW is in good form, it is not a 100% guarantee that he will win against BCL or other opponents.Anything can happen on the court.

I am just stating that he wasn't in good form because you couldn't find the speed in his game.His quality of play wasn't as good as when he played in the tournaments before, esp HK Open.He was slow during the matches.

Taufik said that himself that he was surprised. I was just quoting his words.

If one day Lin Dan didn't play as usual, no powerful smashes, no speed, i am sure that everyone will agree that he wasn't in good form too.

 

[zqloy]

claim him as a 1st class after winning sth other than home tournaments; both TH and LD did many times already. LCW lost to TH in 30 minmutes. TH and LD went to the rubber set.

Ya but no big deal losing to Taufik when he is not in top form recently. Btw Taufik also lost easily to LCW in the TC qualifying round when he is not in top form earlier. Talking bout tournament.... alright his tournament result cannot compare to guys like LD and Taufik, but remember that he came to the scene much more later than those guys. If anyone would rank the class of players by winning tournaments, maybe he is not "1st class" but skill wise he IS definitely. And in future, the player which has the most ability to beat LD is also LCW (and of course young CJ too) since PG is old (sorry to say that), taufik doesnt give a damn. Lets see whether he can produce sth special in another 1 or 2 years time.

 

[phaarix]

hmm, to the statement i've highlighted in bold, i've got to say the difference in last yr's WC & this JO was Taufik readiness, physically and mentally(of course coupled that with LD's energy-sapping 3 setters match in the Semis). These 2 go hand in hand, without one, esp. being physically ready(fit), it's going to be tough. Because in this sport, esp. MS badminton, in order for one to "fight" and "compete fully", one must have enough endurance/be physically ready.

I actually meant this years WC . But I guess it applies to last year as well!

 

[ye333]

I think you forgot Taufik's Sudirman cup loss to LD. That's under 15 pts and Taufik is at his peak. LD is at his best in that match.

I think 21 pts is just partly the reason. TH has been unbeaten (when he really cares and goes all out) from OLympic to 05 WC. So my guess is that he himself became too flattered by this and developed too much false-self-confidence. He easily forgot that he is really not playing that different nowadays than his younger days, and back in those days he was often beaten, and sometimes beaten bad.

TH has to face the reality and start everything over. If he wants to beat LD like in 05 WC again.

No, I am not the great Iie, just take his name to remind us that Iie Sumirat is TH's first and greatest teacher in badminton, besides a great player himself in his time. He is the first who spotted TH talent when TH was still a kid.
On TH vs LD dynamic, I would devide their 6 or 7 head-to-heads into 2 periods. The first is when TH didn't feel any fears at all towards LD and when the scoring system was still 15, he was unbeatable by LD. The second period, was that when the 21 system becomes official last year and TH started to feel this fears towards LD (either due to new scoring, or due to the fact LD has found a way to beat him and becomes stronger mentally). So this new feeling only started in his last 2 or 3 matches against LD, not enough to unlearn it. That's what I meant with playing more against LD is necessary to get use to and unlearn this mental hurdle, that's why CO ll be good, if he can meet LD again. LD has completed his process of unlearning his fears from TH in the first period of their h2h. Now is TH's turn.