Hendra Setiawan's def not at his best today.. Modicum of unnecessary unforced error, chiefly pertinent to the serve.. Hopefully he could minimize it tom
Similar to yesterday then as I didn't watch the match today. The thing is, he doesn't have to be at his best. But when he's at his best, most of the other pairs would be obliterated. Even a half in-form Hendra like in the third-set yesterday is enough to kill off the Japanese pair 21-14. A not in form Hendra resulted in scores like today and the first two sets yesterday.
Good to see WYH's dogged determination to hang in there and claw her way back. But I think IR's superior retrieving ability will tilt the game in her favour. Not sure how WYH's stamina can hold in the decider.
Looking at the scores today, the Japanese pair got into leading positions in both sets: 9-4 in the first-set, and then 9-5, followed by 15-12 in the second-set. Only for the INA pair to level immediately and even overturned the deficit to lead 19-16 in the second-set. The smash and net winners were obviously for the INA pair (30 vs 20).
Yep, with his outstanding placings, he could still control the pattern of the game no matter how many errors he commit. An in-form Hendra would transform to a nightmare for his opponents.
Eagerly wishing May to clinch this game considering the soap operas the Chinese camp played yesterday!
IR's smashes are not hard but more like placement shots and the timing is good with the element of surprise.
The commentators have got it right. It's no longer going to be a game of power, or a game of stamina, of a game of plain retrieving. It's a game of brains and tactics.
At last Yihan prevailed... RI should have finished the match in 2 sets. Pity. Her physical fitness is like at the end of the 3rd set was really so weak..
WYH's ability to read IR's game makes the difference in the end, hadn't expected WYH to come back strongly. Hope Wang Yihan is back for good, marvellous.
Most exciting match of the tournament so far! Poor Intanon - she was let down by her lack of fitness, I feel. I wouldn't be resting on my laurels if I were WYH (nor should anyone in the Chinese women's team, for that matter) - it is so clear that they have to change their rallying style of play to counteract the new breed of technically superior, attacking players like Ratchanok.
Perhaps I am abit negative here but I think it was the Japanese who weren't good enough to kill off the Indonesians, who were not in their best form.