Watanabe + Hoki in the lineup. Guess Kobayashi and Watanabe combo will never happen. I don't mind though...judging by the way Kobayashi played yesterday, it comes as no surprise that he was benched. I only wonder who the primary backcourt player might be.
It almost sounds as if you are blaming their 21-16, 21-9 loss on the service judge . While service faults can indeed break your rhythm, at this level, they should be able to find it again. But I totally agree that it should be possible to challenge more. Service faults, obstruction at the net, touching the net, touching the shuttle with your shirt, both players touching the shuttle etc.. It seems stupid that the umpire is not allowed to change a call in cases where it is obvious from the slow replay that the call was wrong. We need VAR. I hope BWF are exploring how "too high" service faults calls can be automated, maybe with the help of lasers or hawk-eye. It must be possible to record and map the shuttle's path and thus where it was when it started moving. Our commentators mention it every week.
INA v DEN ~ Denmark selects the vast experienced Vittinghus to take important role as this tie most likely would going into fifth match. INA fields same players with yesterday's quarters lineup. CHN v JPN ~ Japan promotes Yuta Watanabe to play MD1 while China trusts young star Li SF more rather than the stagnant Lu Guangzu as second singles player.
If Momota and Tsuneyama deliver then I think JPN has a chance! But I don't think Momo can beat SYQ. And I certainly don't think Kanta can beat LSF. Unless Kanta manage to make this a very very very stamina based match.
Tsuneyama should be more fit, LSF had a long match yesterday, but we know what qualities LSF will rely on in the match so anything can happen
Yeah but the footwork of LSF is much more economical. I am however relying on the experience of Kanta.
Wishing for a DEN-JPN final so Axelsen and Momota can finally face off again (even if Axelsen likely notches his first win against Momota in a long long time). If DEN does reach the final, it seems likely that they will win the tournament. Axelsen and Antonsen are two automatic points & they have good odds in the other three matches. Still rooting for JPN though!
That squad lineup screams JPN for the Final. DEN vs INA is a tougher guess though. If it goes to the 5th match, i can see Rhustavito winning it for INA.
Lol NO! See below the chances: MS1 - CHN - 85% MD1 - CHN or JPN - 50% MS2 - CHN - 90% MD2 - CHN - 100% MS3 - JPN - 75%
Sorry Chiharu but my favourite pair is now Misaki and Nami - the best Matsu/Matsu! I have never enjoyed a WD that much. @kurako I hope you watched that.
I don't know if watching replay version would give the same vibes but I would super suggest you watch it. This has been my favourite WD match of all time. Big crush on Nami now.
trust me, it'll feel the pretty much the same ... with just a little lesser excitement coz you know how it ends ... I re-watched the Fukushima/Matsumoto match (at least the last 2 game), still loving it!! I know if I re-watch the double Matsu, I'll be cheering at the brilliance still!! 2 of the smartest players IMO
