China Open favourites march into finals
Shanghai (AFP) - It will be an all-Chinese showdown in the men?s singles, women?s singles and double?s finals at the VICTOR China Open Finals following Saturday?s semi-finals.
Defending champion Chen Long defeated Malaysia?s Wei Feng Chong 21-17, 21-7 to reach his fourth straight China Open finals.
He will attempt to win his third title against 23-year old former World Junior Champion Wang Zhengming who dispatched Kento Momota of Japan 22-20, 9-21, 21-6.
Defending women?s singles champion and top seed Li Xuerui overcame a spirited challenge from Li Han 21-12, 21-19 with the match point coming on a long rally that won the crowd?s approval.
She will face seventh seeded Wang Shixian in Sunday?s finals. Wang easily bested fellow Thai Portnip Buranaprasertsuk 21-13, 21-5, a day after causing an upset by knocking out world champion Ratchanok Intanon.
One year after making their return to competition following a controversial Olympic scandal, top seeded women?s duo Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang put on a dominating performance winning in just 17 minutes.
It was a good day for China as all three of their women?s teams will play in the semi-finals.
The contenders stayed strong in mixed-doubles with top-seeded pair Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei of China, second seeds Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia and number four Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark all winning.
Zhao Yunlei?s injury cast a shadow over the women?s and mixed doubles draw forcing two walkovers in the draw.
A year after returning to competitive action following being kicked off the London Olympics for playing to lose, top seeded pair Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang of China will try to win their third straight China Open title. They will face eighth seeded Bao Yixin and Zhong Qianxin on Sunday
China will be shut out from the men?s and mixed double?s title after Zhao?s pull-out and Cai Yun and Chai Biao?s defeat to Thien Haw Hoon and Wee Kiong Tan 23-21, 21-17.
The Malaysian winners will face Korean duo Lee Yong-Dae and Yoo Yeon-Seong who bested Japan?s Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa 19-21, 21-19, 21-11 in the day?s longest match.
In mixed doubles, Indonesia?s Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir defeated Korea?s
Kim Ki-Jung and Kim So-Young. The second seeded pair will face number four seed Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen of Demark tomorrow.
