SWISS OPEN 2012 QF – Chin and Wong back in the top league

Malaysia’s Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty beat Malaysia Open winners Rytter-Juhl Pedersen to secure a semi-final birth. Elsewhere, most favourites came through to the semi-finals, where Taufik will meet again with Chen Jin, while Chen Long takes on Korea’s Lee Hyun Il.

By Michaela Bencova, live from Basel. Photos: Sven Heise (live)

Women’s doubles  can be quite entertaining.  Unfortunately, during the quarter-finals in Switzerland, not all of the 4 matches of women´s doubles were quite as enjoyable as it they could have been. If the shuttlers managed to keep the shuttle in play (and not serving into the net, or out, etc.) it looked like training matches – clear, clear, net, net, clear, clear, net, net. Even where the only Europeans in the quarter-finals, Christinna Pedersen / Kamilla Rytter Juhl, played Malaysia’s Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty (photo), the Danes could not find their rhythm. Most of their points came from mistakes by their opponents. After one disappointing rally for Danes, Kamilla herself made some comments in English about the “quality” of this match.  The Europeans finally lost in 3 games 18-21, 21-15, 7-21, which provides the Malaysians with one of the best results of the past months, which have not been up to the mark.  Chin and Won, meanwhile, will move to within 400 points of their compatriots Hoo/Woon in their bid for a berth in the Olympics.

Most of the men´s doubles went for 3 games. Only Asian shuttlers were involved in these matches and the crowd could see sometimes amazing long rallies, big fights, deep dives.  China’s and Japan’s 3rd-ranked pairs faced off and went right to a photo finish, where Endo/Hayakawa saved three match points, then extended their run to five points to send German Open champions Hong Wei / Shen Ye packing.

Adcock and Bankier one step closer to qualifying

The main attraction for spectators at Swiss Open are mostly the matches were Europeans are involved. One of the most anticipated matches was the mixed doubles between Chris Adcock / Imogen Bankier (photo) and Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and, again, Kenichi Hayakawa. Especially in first game, the British were very sharp. Even when Japanese were trying hard and were able to keep the shuttle in play, the British duo was more successful in preparing the final, deadly attacks. With every point getting closer to the end of the match we could more and more excitement after each rally. The Anglo-Scottish pair ended in a victory 21-9, 21-19, getting a couple of thousand more important points to get away from their main rivals for the London Olympic Qualification, Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork.

The hall was getting full with upcoming men’s singles where Europe had 2 representatives. 18-year-old Viktor Axelsen was facing the 31-year-old badminton matador Lee Hyun Il (photo). Even when young Dane was trying his best and was playing very well, the winner of this match was the experienced long time top player from Korea with a clear score of 21-15, 21-14. With almost the same result (21-14, 21-14) China’s Chen Long beat Denmark’s now famous face Hans-Kristian Vittinghus.

Women’s singles also have to be mentioned for their excellent work on court. 2010 and 2011 World Junior Champion from Thailand Ratchanok Intanon is clearly showing to everybody that she is to be counted upon in the future. With plenty of support of the crowd she showed the exit to Korean Sung Ji Hyun after a 64-minute fight 21-14, 14-21, 22-20.

All results HERE