WORLDS 2010 – Diehl shows her hand in Paris

Ella Diehl, the Russian number one and 13^th seed for the tournament, fought back from a set down to defeat Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo at the 2010 Yonex BWF World Badminton Championships.

Article and Interview by Mark Phelan.  Photos: Badmintonphoto.com (live)

Diehl, sporting the Solibad logo on her shirt, looked a long way from victory is a pretty lacklustre opening set. The Russian never really managed to assert her game on her opponent and the Malaysian was comfortable securing the set 21-11.

A rejuvenated Diehl, supported by her Husband Rainer Diehl in the coach’s chair, stormed back in the second set as she quickened the tempo. After sprinting into a 10-2 lead  the Russian allowed her opponent to drag herself back into the set at 10-6 but Diehl steadied the ship and controlled the remainder of the exchanges to send the match to a deciding set with a 21-15 win.

In a hall that has temperatures searing into the 30’s, fitness was always going to have its part to play in the deciding set. At 31 years of age, Ella Diehl is probably one of the fittest women on tour and that, combined with the momentum she gained from winning the second, drove the Russian on to take the match with a 21-12 win in the decider as the Malaysian ran out of steam.

Diehl’s victory ended Malaysia’s involvement in the women’s singles at the 2010 World Championships.  Meanwhile, the Russian now advances to a quarter-final meeting with Saina Nehwal, to  whom she has lost as recently as the Indonesian and Singapore Opens, albeit in tight matches.

“I was a bit off the pace in the opening set and was not following my own tactic.  In the second, I knew I had to go back to my game plan and force my play on her. This worked for me and made it easier in the end. I had to tell myself to play the situation in front of me and it worked in the end so I’m happy,” said Diehl after her victory.

To hear Ella Diehl’s full post -match interview click on the thumbnail below:

For all results click HERE