SS FINALS 2010 Day 4 – Bae can do no ‘Wang’

Korea’s Bae Youn Joo found the magic again to get the better of Wang Yihan and advance to the final of the Victor BWF Super Series Finals.

By Don Hearn, Badzine Correspondent live in Taipei.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

It has been nearly a year since Bae Youn Joo’s last international final.  Coincidentally, the last time, too, involved a huge upset over China’s Wang Yihan – then, the #1 women’s singles player in the world.  Bae took control early, finishing the first game 21-18  before letting Wang Yihan dictate the rallies early in the second, giving her a big enough cushion to withstand her younger rival’s late challenge.

Bae made sure to get out in front in the third, however, and led from start to finish to extend her limited but satisfying unbeaten streak against the second seed.

“I felt good after the first game but then when I fell behind at the beginning of the second, I started to get nervous,” Bae Youn Joo said later.

“Wang Shixian, whom I played yesterday, is really a precision player but I find that Wang Yihan’s style is different in a way that I find more comfortable to play against,” she added.

“I’m not in particularly good condition today,” Wang offered.  “I haven’t had much luck against the Bae’s, I guess.  Last year, when I lost to Bae Seung Hee, I was very nervous because it was my first time at the Uber Cup and I didn’t play well at all and last year when Bae Youn Joo beat me in Malaysia, it was my first time playing against her and it was a tough three games.”

Awaiting Bae in the final, of course, is a rematch against Wang Shixian, who won their first encounter, in Friday’s round robin and in fact has not lost to Bae since the first time the two 20-year-olds met, back in their junior days.

“Yesterday, when I played Wang Shixian, I fell behind in the first game and although it was very tight, I couldn’t get control of the match so tomorrow, I’m going to try to get on top in the beginning and see every rally through to the end.”

Wang Shixian, too, is in a familiar position to last year.  In 2010, she began the season with a final against a Korean opponent.  At that time, however, Sung Ji Hyun was playing in her first ever final.  This time Wang will be up against a much more experienced opponent.

Shades of 2010, shades of Friday

Peter Gade was up next and he, too, started off the year exactly the same as he had last January: with a semi-final win over Chen Long that gives him a shot at Lee Chong Wei in the final.  This time, however, Gade fended off Chen’s charge to ensure he did not have to play a tiring third game.  Despite watching Chen erode his 15-6 lead down to an 16-all tie, Gade held on to win 21-19, 21-18.

“Chen Long is definitely the man of the future for China,” Gade said after the match. “He will definitely take over once Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai retire but he is very different style-wise.  He is very big and has great width to cover the court but he doesn’t play as fast.

“He beat everyone to win the China Open, he is obviously one of the best players in the world so I feel very lucky that I was able to beat him, especially coming off my back injury.

“Against Lee Chong Wei tomorrow, I hope it will be a different result from yesterday but you have to play better than your best to beat him so, we’ll see.”

For complete results from Day 4 of the BWF Super Series Finals, CLICK HERE

Come stay with us for the Super Series Finals at the Chateau de Chine.  Located at the heart of Sinjhuang City, Chateau de Chine Hotel is created to convey the vibrant and everlasting sense of traditional beauty. Inspired by the Art Nouveau style, Chateau de Chine hotel infuses the finest elegance of French design with an authentic touch of oriental aesthetics.   If you are looking for quality accommodation during the event or anytime you are visiting Taipei, check out their website here.