INDONESIA OPEN 2017 R16 – Mixed feelings for hosts

Indonesia’s shuttlers had a tough time yesterday in the packed Jakarta Convention Centre, with only a fourth of their shuttlers going through but there were nevertheless some nice surprises.

By Mathilde Liliana Perada, Badzine Correspondent live in Jakarta.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

It was just another disappointing day for the hosts which could be summed up by “a quarter for quarters”. Only 4 out of 16 –  a quarter – of their representatives in the second round could make it into quarter-final round. Jonatan Christie (photo) was far from his best and was dismissed by Chen Long 21-9 21-7. In the other match involving a singles player, Tai Tzu Ying, still unbeatable since the All England, sent Gregoria Mariska Tunjung packing, sometimes looking as though she was bored on court…

Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Rian Ardianto became the first host representatives to book a quarter-final spot. They stopped another Indonesian men’s doubles pair, Angga Pratama / Ricky Karanda Suwardi, by a 21-17, 17-21, 21-15 victory.

“We took the initiative to attack first because we thought the pair who got the attack first could win the game,” said Alfian after the match.

In women’s doubles, Anggia Shitta Awanda / Ni Ketut Mahadewi Istirani (photo) matched last year’s performance after beating Korea’s Jung Kyung Eun / Shin Seung Chan (photo). Another women’s doubles, Della Destiara Haris and Rosyita Eka Putri Sari took their ticket to the next round, beating China’s Luo twins.

“It was difficult match. We had to be patient to get one point at a time because they’re typical rally players,” Putri Sari said.  They will meet Chang Ye Na / Lee So Hee who defeated Greysia Polii / Apriyani Rahayu.

Tontowi Ahmad / Liliyana Natsir became the last Indonesia’s players who gained entry to the quarter-finals but they did so by beating compatriots Hafiz Faizal / Shela Devi Aulia  21-17, 22-20.

Zhang Beiwen into quarter-finals

The world #10 Zhang Beiwen (photo) showed an impressive performance in her last two tournaments as she reached semi-final at Singapore Open and Thailand Open, both times losing only to the #1 seeded player. But no one knows that she hardly ever practices when she is back in her home in Nevada: “When I’m staying in America, I don’t practice. I don’t go to the court and practice badminton. I only go to the gym and run.  That’s it,” said Zhang.

As she manages her own travel arrangements alone for every tournament, it is more difficult for her to adapt to each new atmosphere. “The hardest part is when I get to the hall but there’s nobody I can play with.”

But it can’t be a reason for her not to give her best on the court. She played really well at Indonesia Open and defeated the #4 seed from India in the second round.  She went through a tough first game versus Pusarla Venkata Sindhu and managed to turn the situation around in the second.

The score in the third game was really tight since both of the players wanted to win. When they reached 17-all, Zhang secured three points in a row and got match point first. She wrapped it up  15-21, 21-12, 21-18 and secured her spot in the quarter-final.

“My level is not stable. I can beat someone and I can lose to anybody just like that,” Zhang said about her performance. She also said that she had semi-final in her mind. “My target is the semi-final because I have never made it to the semi-final at a Superseries Premier before.”

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