JAPAN OPEN 2010 – Appealing semi between Lin Dan and Peter Gade

Lin Dan and Peter Gade will meet for the second time this year after the Swiss Open, in the semi-final of the Yonex Japan Open. The Dane won in Basel, but is prepared for a tough fight in Tokyo.  Lee Chong Wei and Boonsak will meet in the other half.

By Raphaël Sachetat. Photos (live) : Yves Lacroix, Badmintonphoto

Tokyo, September 24th 2010 – Lin Dan didn’t go back right away to the hotel, as he usually does after a win. He stayed quietly, in the player’s area, watching his future opponent play. Maybe because he knows that Peter Gade is currently the only player on the badminton planet who has beaten him last time they played. He avenged his quarter-final loss to Park Sung Hwan for the second time in Tokyo after beating him in China last week, so, that was taken care of. But his loss to Gade in the Swiss Open might still be in the back of his mind, even if it was 6 months ago.

Lin Dan did show some of his magic touch against the Korean on Friday, once again in front of a full arena in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. It was enough to take a crucial lead in the first game 22-20, before securing the second one by a bigger margin 21-16.

For Gade, even if the score line of 21-13, 21-13 looked easier, the Dane still had to keep up his pace and pressure as he knew Nguyen Tien Minh would be ready to bank on any sign of weakness from his side.

“It was a tough match. Just like any of these opponents, you have to be on top in all aspects of your game in order to win. I am glad I was able to keep that spirit throughout the match, but it was difficult. Especially in the second game where I could feel a lot of draft in the hall,” said Gade, while his daughter and wife joined him in the mixed zone for a quick after match kiss.

“This is a good season for me. I’ve managed to be stable throughout the year, but it is also because I was able to keep up the motivation, and work hard between tournaments. I’ve reached the semi-final stage each time I entered a Super Series, but now I need to get one step further and get some wins,” he said, before adding “It will be difficult against Lin Dan, because he’s playing very well. He and Chong Wei are quite sharp here. But I beat Lin Dan last time we played, and I will keep that in mind tomorrow.”

The other semi-final will feature another appealing match between Boonsak Ponsana and Lee Chong Wei. The Thai player beat Chen Long in three games while Chong Wei waited for the last match of the evening to outplay Bao Chunlai in the most surprising manner, 21-10, 21-10.

It maybe because the Asian Games are soon here – a tournament that was the highlight of their young career when they had just teamed up in 2006 – but Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong looked very sharp on court against Kim and Shin of Korea. The duo let go with the second game but overall, they controlled the rallies and look like they could be Cai and Fu’s biggest threat for the final victory. They will take on Ahsan/Septano in the semis while the Chinese will have to play their younger compatriots Zhang Nan and Chai Biao.

Tine Baun will once again face the usual Chinese wall as she entered the semi-final of the event with Jiang Yanjiao, Wang Xin and Wang Shixian left for her to play. The Dane avenged her January loss against Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun 21-11, 21-18 while Wang Xin left a gem in her battle against Eriko Hirose, who put up a strong fight against the new world number one. Wang Xin and Tine Baun will meet for the 6^th time in a year on Saturday, with the Dane having yet to win a match against the short left hander. Lu Lan bowed to her compatriot Jiang Yanjiao while Wang Shixian also dropped a game against the new-comer from Japan, Shizuka Uchida.

China could also win in the mixed and women’s doubles events as they have three and two pairs respectively left in the draw. Denmark has one chance in the mixed with Fischer-Nieslen and Pedersen who edged out their compatriots Laybourn and Rytter Juhl.

All Results HERE

If you are to visit Tokyo for the Japan Open, you should stay in our partner hotel, the Chisun Grand Akasaka, a classy and modern hotel just a few minutes away from the venue, the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Click HERE to find out more about our partner hotel.