COPENHAGEN MASTERS 2012 – Semi-final excitement

In the second part of the semi-finals of the Copenhagen Masters 2012, other nations have started to rise up to beat the Great Danes at their home ground. Both Hu Yun from Hong Kong and Thai mixed doubles duo Sudket Prapakamol / Saralee Thungthongkam conquered their Danish opponents and left only the men’s doubles event to be an all-Danish final.

Serla Rusli and Yanyan Emily, Badzine Correspondents live from Copenhagen.

The promising young star Viktor Axelsen was really close to beating the Hong Kong opponent thirteen years his senior. He controlled and eventually clinched the first game, but once Hu Yun caught up with him in the second game and gained momentum, he was unstoppable. Coupled with Viktor’s unforced errors, Hu Yun advanced to the finals in 17-21, 23-21, 21-14.

“My performance was normal and I feel that I played well. Viktor is much younger than me, so I had the confidence to win. I will rest a while and then play tonight’s final against Jan Ø. He is a good player as he is fast paced, smart and has good skills,” said Hu Yun.

“I don’t think I played a good match. It is a disappointment, of course, as I was close to winning the second game. I fought throughout the whole match, but I made too many mistakes, lost crucial points and my opponent played better. I think Jan would win tonight because Hu Yun will be tired, as he would have to play two matches in one day,” commented Viktor.

In mixed doubles, Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thungthongkam outclassed their Danish opponents Mads Pieler Kolding/Kamilla Rytter Juhl in exciting three games of 14-21, 21-11, 21-11.

“In the first game, we too made many mistakes. Since it was the first time we played against this pair, we had to understand their style. However, once we got it, we could move faster and made more attacks, so we played better,” said Saralee.

They will face top Danish mixed doubles pair Joachim Fischer Nielsen / Christinna Pedersen.

“We have never beaten the Danes yet, but we hope to win.”

The men’s doubles event will feature an all-Danish final as new pairing Rasmus Bonde / Mads Conrad-Petersen advanced to the finals. Their opponents, Malaysian duo Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif / Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari, had to retire from the match as Fairuz’s ankle injury resurfaced in the second game

“It is unfortunate that Fairuz had an old ankle injury, so he was not moving very well,” regretted the Malaysian coach. “The Danes saw the problem and made him run, which made things worse.”

Bonde/Conrad-Petersen were at first set to play against world men’s doubles #1 Mathias Boe / Carsten Morgensen. However, as Mathias Boe is down with sickness, he will be replaced by Mads Pieler Kolding in the finals.