INDONESIA OPEN 2014 R32 – Hosts surprise

The second day of the BCA Indonesia Open Superseries Premier was coloured by some host pairs greeting top seeds with big surprises.

By Mathilde Liliana Perada, Badzine Correspondent live in Jakarta.  Photos: Yves Lacroix for Badmintonphoto (live)

New Indonesian mixed doubles pair Kevin Sanjaya Sukomuljo / Greysia Polii looked stunning in front of their public.  Although the opponents they faced were none other than the defending champions and world #1 pair, the Indonesians didn’t even flinch.

After losing the first game, Sukomuljo/Polii trying to change the pattern of their game in the second  and eventually forced a rubber game. The new pair took the lead early in the third game and although Zhang/Zhao gave chase, the underdogs emerged with the victory 15-21, 21-18, 23-21.

“We played with nothing to lose, focussing on one point at a time,” said Kevin after match, adding that they were trying their best and not to give the chance for Chinese players to attack.

In another key match for the home team, Ricky Karanda Suwardi and Berry Angriawan advanced to the second round with a win over #3 seeds and two-time All England runners-up Hiroyuki Endo / Kenichi Hayakawa of Japan.  The Indonesians played a tight game and finally the host representatives sent the Japanese players home early

In another tough encounter, Simon Santoso became one of two men’s singles players to advance to the second round when he beat last year’s runner-up Marc Zwiebler of Germany in three games.

“It was a lucky game for me.  The last game was hard and I tried to change my tactics in the last two points and it worked,” said Santoso.  The 2012 Indonesia Open winner had trailed at the end of the third game but was able to equalize and keep alive the chance to repeat his success oftwo years ago.

“It’s good to face a host representative and their supporters will challenge you. If I had one wish, I wish to have won the game,” said Zwiebler.

Click here for complete Wednesday results