INDONESIA OPEN 2010 SF – Mixed feelings for Indonesia

The drumming supporters at Istora Senayan had to witness five of their heroes being edged out of the tournament, leaving only two Indonesians in the final showdown of Djarum Indonesia Open Super Series 2010. To the crowd’s relief, Taufik Hidayat (photo) survived his semi-final match against Nguyen Tien Minh. He will be accompanied by Hendra Setiawan who, with his Russian partner Anastasia Russkikh, has created a sensation in the mixed doubles event throughout the week.

Awaiting them in the final are third seeds Robert Mateusiak (photo) / Nadiezda Zieba, winners of the Hong Kong Open last fall.

“I think we’ll be a bigger threat to them because they have never seen us play before,” declared Anastasia.

“This is a really great improvement for us in Indonesia to get into the finals. Before this year, we had never won a single match here in Jakarta,” added Zieba. “So our aim at first was just to try to win at least a match.”

The men’s singles finals are an exact copy of last year’s edition of Indonesia Open Super Series final where Taufik Hidayat will meet Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei.  Both players passed their semi-final tests convincingly: Taufik stopped Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam in 21-17, 21-12 while Lee Chong Wei had an unexpected easy win against Sony Dwi Kuncoro in 21-13, 21-9, preventing the repeat of his semi-final loss to the Indonesian in Singapore.

“I didn’t expect to win so easily over Sony. I’m happy with my condition since it has improved greatly over the days,” shared Chong Wei. “I really hope to be able to defend my title.”

Taufik is eyeing the title with the same great intensity. “I really hope to win tomorrow and prove that Indonesian badminton has not died. Up until now, my condition has been really good, so let’s just hope it continues.”

However, it is left to be seen whether the Indonesian will be able to reign over the first seed, making it his seventh Indonesia Open title. “Lee Chong Wei is on top of his form now. Of course, deep inside I want to win my seventh Indonesia Open title, but it is no longer my sole purpose like before. I will just focus on playing my best in the match tomorrow.”

Saina Nehwal, Fang/Lee, and Kim/Lee will all be repeat finalists from the Singapore Open Super Series last week. Saina is actually on her way to her third consecutive title in three weeks.

“This is amazing that it is happening. I have never done this before – going to three tournaments in a row and done really well in all of them.”  She finally seemed to overcome her struggle since the start of the tournament as she tamed Eriko Hirose easily in 21-9, 21-10.

Saina’s last test to defend her title in Indonesia will be her World Junior Championship 2008 final opponent Sayaka Sato (photo) from Japan.  Sato dashed away Indonesians’ last hope in women’s singles, beating fellow 19-year-old Ana Rovita (Rovita is one day her junior) in a tight 22-20, 21-17.  The victory was well deserved by Sato as she pulled off amazing comebacks in both games: she was trailing 4-14 in the first game and in the second game gained 11 points in a row to clinch the match after being down 10-17.

“I’m very honoured to be able to play in the finals in Indonesia. I have only been able to reach quarter-finals in Super Series so far,” said the ever-smiling Sato.

Double trouble from Chinese Taipei

Chinese Taipei booked two spots in the Indonesia Open Super Series doubles finals. Fourth seeded Cheng Wen Hsing / Chien Yu Chin beat Vita Marissa / Saralee Thoungthongkam in 21-15, 21-15. They will face Kim Min Jung / Lee Hyo Jung who upset first-seeded Japanese duo Miyuki Maeda / Satoko Suetsuna 21-16, 21-18.

The unstoppable Fang Chieh Min / Lee Sheng Mu overcame Anthony Clark / Nathan Robertson from England to book their second consecutive finals spot.

“We have gained more confidence after winning Singapore Open last week,” Fang/Lee finished the English pair’s journey in 15-21, 21-9, 22-20. Cho Gun Woo/Kwon Yi Goo (photo) from Korea will be the ones to set the hurdle for the Chinese Taipei pair in the finals. Cho/Kwon defeated Hirokatsu Hashimoto / Noriyasu Hirata from Japan in 19-21, 21-12, 21-14 to enter their first ever Super Series finals.