MS: KJ Vs Boonsak Hafiz Vs Susilo MD: JR/LP Vs Gan/Abdul Latif Chew/Choong Vs Lee/Jung WS: Pi Vs Xu Yao Vs Yonekura WD: Saralee/Sathinee Vs Lee/Lee Zhang/Zhang Vs Jiang/Lee XD: Laybourn/Juhl Vs sudket/saralee Lee/Lee Vs Xie/Zhang Loads of intresting match ups here: MS: Both players are counter attacking or defensive players who like to rally. Boonsak better at the net, Kenneth from the back and driving. I think KJ, but could rule out Boonsak at home. Hafiz should be favourite here, I dont really rate susilo highly, although i have only seen him a few times. Hafiz should be able to control susilos' attack and finish off his chances. MD: I know nothing about tazari/Lin so will go for JR/LP since they seem i good form. The other game is tough, new Korea verses experienced MAL. I really can't tell but if pushed would go for Lee/Jung WS: Pi should be OK against Xu, she had a virtual rest day today, and it will be a physical game. Not sure about the other. Yao has been so so recently,but both are experienced in the extreme. Go for Yonekura as JP WS on a roll at the moment. WD: Anticipating good well fought games in all of the remaining matches here. Lee/Lee should be stronger than saralee/sathinee, but they fight well the thai pair and are at home. Could go to three games. Zhang/Zhang are the next CHN WD (but still 4/5th best) and the SIN pair looked good at AE when I saw them, but I think the strength of CHN should show through. XD: Laybourn/Juhl match against thai pair should be fiery, they are both quite explosive and stroke making pairs. Going for home advantage though. Lee/Lee are fresh and new, and coached by Kim Dong Moon should know about beating pairs at XD. The CHN pair are new, I havent seen them so cant say how they play. Tough call, going with KOR though. Overall some good,well balanced matches in all disciplines. and with any result combinations we should see good finals.
James, some corrections. It's Gan/Zakry who qualified for semis. Tazari/Lin have been bundled out by JR/LP in last 8.
I was a little upset by XXZ lost. Cause Susilo is not playing well since last year Olympiade. This only mean that XXZ started playing sloppy. With his poor performance I doubt he will qualified for the World Championship this year. My prediction for the Thai Open finals! MS: KJ VS Hafiz. No Doubt at all. WS: Xu VS Yao Jie. Xu just won over Pi in Swiss Open. MD: Jonas/Lars VS Chong/Chew Side note: How can the Koreans(Ha Tae Kwon and his teammate) lost to the Malaysians fourth or fifth doubles at the QF??? That proves that Ha Tae Kwon had to found other partner immediately otherwise The Koreans will only had one good double now in Lee/Lee. WD: The most interesting fight will be the Thais VS the Koreans in SF. This is their first meeting. And a crucial one cause they likely will meet in the Sudirman Cup in Group 1A. Both of them will fight hard. But the Koreans will prevail and meet the Chinese in final. Sidenotes: Interesting fact. Sujitra E who was once Thai Top WS and WD , play again after a long injury in WD with Salakjit P. The result is not bad at all, they got into QF before lost to Saralee/Sathinee. With that, Thai will have two good WD and other nations except China had to worried about Thai Uber Cup next year. Especially if Sujitra decide to play single again. XD: Hard to predict. If the Danes show their play like in All England they will win over the Thais. In other match, the Chinese probably can take advantage that both of the Koreans had to play in MD and WD semifinal. A dare prediction: Danes VS Chinese in final.
A lot of good points HC poirot. Especially about WD in forthcoming Sudirman cup, and Uber cup next year. That will make this WD most important to get Psychological edge. I will not rule out Thais Lee Hyo jun is good, but incosistent. Lee kyun won cannot do it all on her own. About XXZ who says Susilo hasn't rediscovered his form? XXZ can still qualify also. Ha Tae kwons' job is too play with new Korea players to gain them experience at this level. He has had three different partners in AE swiss open and now this thai open. I dont think he is looking for good solid partner, moreso to help the coaches find out what their juniors/new 1st teamers can do under pressure in top tournaments. If they played with each other, they may not make the Qualifying, or lose early. This way they gain three or more matches against top players they would not otherwise have.
Xu Haiwen Bt Pi Hongyan 11-3 8-11 13-12 (Close one!) Yao Jie Bt Yonekura 11-7 11-4 Laybourn/Juhl Bt sudket/saralee 15-10 14-17 17-16!!!!!!!!!! Even closer! Lee/Lee bt Xie/Zhang 15-11 15-4 No other results yet. XD finals should be good.
Hafiz is th man on form these days! he just beat Susilo in three close games 13-15 17-14 15-9! I wonder if susilo had any match points? It is the first time he has beaten him. Also was the first time Boonsak beat Roslin yesterday, hopefully Boonsak can beat KJ for the first time today too! go Thailand!
He couldnt, KJ Beat Boonsak in straight games 15-10 15-6 A repeat of the singapore open semi final then Hafiz vs KJ only this time I say Hafiz should be the favourite! I go for a long three setter though, hafiz seems to like it that way! MD + WD results to follow.
Hafiz is such a strange player, he seems to thrive under extreme pressure. I wouldn't be surprised if Ronald held match point and lost it. Hafiz's track to winning the Swiss Open was similar as well...living on the edge. Boonsak I think just had nothing to give anymore after yesterday...plus KJ is on form now. What a juicy MS final tomorrow.
Did you see the match duration : 1h03, it must have been closer than the score seems to show... In MD, Jung/Lee thrashed Chew/Choong 15-5 15-6 !!!
You might be right on that one... Last SF was won by Lee/Lee 12-15 15-815-11 against Saralee and Sathinee. As a result, there won't be any Thais in the finals this year...
From the QF stage onwards it looks like there have been some tremendous matches. over an hour for a scoreline of 10 and 6 is a long match indeed. WD Kor v Thai looks like az good fight too.
Go Gade, You are right. Xu ost to Pi in Swiss Open But my prediction is right this time. Xu won over Pi in SF. So my prediction not bad at all. 8 of 10 predictions are correct. Final prediction: MS: Time for KJ to win a 2005 title. WS : Yao Jie will win! MD: Lars and Jonas win. WD: Time for the Chnese toget revenge of their loss in Korea Open. Not tomention Lee had to lay twice in final and she had to play three sets in today WD SF. XD: The best New XD pair had to be given to the Danes. They improved quickly. Another dare prediction, they will win over Koreans in 3 sets.
The combination of mental strength, desire, physical state and a little bit of luck will decide the match. KJ and Hafiz: 50 - 50. However, Hafiz seems to get his sudden burst of energy once he makes an incredible save or recovery shot, or when everything seems lost. If he gets into this mode, he will beat Kenneth, but it will be close. The rest are as you predicted, hcpoirot.
