ALL ENGLAND 2013 R16 – Only Wang Shixian left

In the women’s singles, traditionally a field dominated by the Chinese, only Wang Shixian remains for China as she herself put out compatriot Jiang Yanjiao and then Tine Baun dispatched Han Li.

By Michael Burke, Badzine Correspondent, live from Birmingham.  Photos: Yohan Nonotte for Badmintonphoto (live).

Tine Baun (pictured left) playing in her last tournament, showed great control and experience to outplay Chinese opponent Han Li. Settling into the game straight away, she bossed the rallies finishing points with perfectly placed smashes as she raced away to take the first game 21-13.

A much-improved Han Li featured the second game, with the drift again playing a significant role for the players. Despite taking an 18-14 lead, Han was still unsettled on court, repeatedly protesting to the umpire about line calls and looking to her coach.

A smash defence whipped across court took the momentum from Han, as Baun proceeded to drop the shuttle on the line. Baun required two efforts to take the match point, but her experience showed through as she didn’t panic, wrapping the game up 22-20.

Speaking after the game, Baun said “I felt very good on court, I could play all my usual strokes without trouble. I was mentally clear, I knew what to do and I wasn’t afraid of her. All the Chinese players have a very high level so I wasn’t so worried about losing.”

Commenting on her recovery in the second game, “I just had to get used to the wind, a lot of drift put pressure on my backhand shots.”

Obviously relaxed in her final tournament, she said, “The level is always very high at the All England, so I’m taking each game at a time. This victory was good to buy me another day.”

Meanwhile Wang Shixian (pictured right) was untroubled as she dispatched compatriot Jiang Yanjiao in straight sets, 21-11 21-13. She remains as the only Chinese player left in the women’s singles draw, to face Saina Nehwal of India in the quarter-finals.

The full results for the day can be found here.

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