SINGAPORE OPEN 2010 QF – Sony D(w)ID it!

Lee Chong Wei may have gotten away with the close calls for the past two days. He handled his previous two matches with less conviction than one would expect from a tournament top favourite. Both matches stretched to tiebreaker games with the Malaysian reigning over unseeded shuttlers Brice Leverdez (FRA) and Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka (INA).

However, in the second game, the Indonesian proved otherwise. His composure at crucial moments – when he was trailing at 11-15 – secured him points that eventually forced Lee to his third tiebreaker game in the tournament.

His strategy and strong mentality did the trick and Sony was able to prevent the repeat of his All England defeat. His relentless pressure eventually paid off as he clinched the deciding game 21-15. This victory tipped the scales of their head-to-head record to Sony’s advantage at 5-4.

Sony’s semi-final opponent, Kashyap Parupalli, had a much easier task in the quarter-final as he defeated compatriot Arvind Bhat in straight games, 21-17, 21-16.

Singapore Open is saved from losing both its top two seeds in men’s singles as Peter Gade (photo) from Denmark managed to edge another Indonesian quarter-finalist, Simon Santoso. Peter squeezed through the 67-minute match in 17-21, 21-8, 21-17.

“I was trailing in the third game, but I kept on fighting. That’s one of the reasons I won in the end. And I’m really happy with the support from the spectators.  It was so good,” thanked the Dane.

“In the first game, I had better control of the shuttle. I did not want to let him earn his points. I was lagging quite far in the second game, and I thought that I would just let it go and fight my way in the final game. However, I made a lot of unforced errors in the end,” reflected the twenty-five-year-old Simon Santoso (photo).

“Overall, I think my performance has improved in this tournament. Right from the start, I was geared up to play against Peter in this quarter-final match. That was my hope and I achieved it.”

Emerging as a winner from this round only means that another arduous task is at hand as Boonsak Ponsana from Thailand is waiting at the other side of the court.

“He is a good player! He always plays well here, so to play against him I will have to be very patient with my attacks, move him around the court. If I have the physical power to gain the upper hand first, then I stand a good chance. But it’s going to be a tough game, I’m sure,” commented Peter on his semi-final clash.

Boonsak booked his semi-final limelight after beating Dicky Palyama in a quick 21-15, 21-5 match.

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