KOREA OPEN 2011 Day 2 – Saina, Danes win final rematches

India’s Saina Nehwal and Danes Rasmussen/Conrad-Petersen won their matches today, both rematches of past finals in the Super Series.

By Don Hearn, Badzine Correspondent live in Seoul.  Photos: Yves Lacroix for Badmintonphoto

An early testament to the strength of the field at this inaugural event in badminton’s new Premier Super Series was the fact that two first round matches were to be repeats of finals of past Super Series events.  Saina Nehwal of India was the only one to repeat her victory, as the Singapore Open champion defeated the runner-up from that tournament, Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying, in three tough games 19-21, 21-14, 22-20.

“I was having some difficulty because I hadn’t been able to practice when I was taking care of my injury,” explained Saina after her match.  “But I didn’t lose confidence, even when I was 17-19 down at the end, I felt I could come back and win it.

“But I think I was having trouble with my stamina. Also she is a tricky player.  She played extreme strokes and I had difficulty when I played her in the Singapore Open and she has improved a lot in the last 6 or 7 months and this time she played really well and I’m just looking forward to the next match.

“I have never had an ankle injury before so I was a bit scared and this was my first match after coming back but for the next match, I think I’ve got used to it and I’ll be so much more comfortable playing with the pain.”

Danes learn the two-step

Malaysia Open champions Guo Zhendong / Chai Biao of China, for their part, could not repeat their victory over Denmark’s Jonas Rasmussen / Mads Conrad-Petersen.  The Danes won their second match in four days against the Chinese to advance to the second round of the Korea Open.

“On Sunday it seemed like they were always one or two steps ahead of us but today it was us who were always one or two steps ahead of them.”

“We watched a video of the final from Malaysia and we tried to figure out what we were doing wrong,” said Rasmussen after the match.  “We seemed to lack that 5 to 10% energy we needed.  But today they looked more tired than us so I think we benefited more from the three days’ rest.”

“When you are a new pair like we are and like they are, you tend to get into trouble and it’s tough to find a way out of it,” added Conrad-Petersen.  “On Sunday it seemed like they were always one or two steps ahead of us but today it was us who were always one or two steps ahead of them.

“But now we have played six tournaments together and we have had some successes but also some terrible losses so we are starting to figure out which strategies to use and which not to.

“For me especially, there have been a lot of new impressions and I am more used to it now.  We have a lot of confidence now for our next matches.”

Rasmussen is quick to acknowledge, though, that their next match will be against 2008 champions Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng of China.  In other words, they will need all the confidence they can muster.

For complete results from Day 2 of the 2011 Victor Korea Open Premier Super Series, CLICK HERE

If you are coming for the Korea Open, or whenever you visit Seoul, try Badzine’s partner hotel, the Artnouveau City.  Offering fully-serviced residences, it is a stylish home for long or short-term business people, and a great place to stay during the Korea Open.

CLICK HERE to make a reservation at the Artnouveau City