SWISS OPEN 2016 SF – Mixed fortunes for Indians

The Swiss Open held in Basel this week saw differing fortunes for India’s two semi-finalists, while Japanese women’s doubles contingent ensured that title would return home with them.

Story and photos by F.Dionisi & Marie Richard,  Badzine Correspondents live in Basel.

The semi-final between Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tzu Wei  (TPE) and H. S. Prannoy (photo) of India turned out well for the Indian even if, at one point, he thought it was all over.  Trailing 20-21 in the deciding game, an attempted net kill from Wang seemed to have won him the match but instead, the umpire called him for a fault.

“I don’t really know if the point at 21-20 was a fault,” said H. S. Prannoy after the match.  “I thought that the match was over, but I was really lucky that this attack was called a fault by the umpire. And then the match turned around and I’m really happy with that,” added the Indian, for whom it was the 3rd match point he’d saved before he went on to win it minutes later, 12-21, 21-14, 23-21.

“I’m really happy. I haven’t played any final since the last year, so it will give me great confidence. In 2014, I played really well, so many finals and semi-finals, so I hope it’s the beginning for 2016.”

Prannoy will play Germany’s Marc Zwiebler, who beat Henri Hurskainen of Sweden in a thrilling 3-game match.  It has been even longer for Zwiebler since he’s played in a major final, the last time being at the 2013 Bitburger Open.

Later in the day, Prannoy’s compatriot Saina Nehwal (header) didn’t get the same happy ending against Wang Yihan (photo). After a straightforward first game went the way of the Chinese two-time champion, Saina – who herself won this title in 2011 and 2012 – managed to play better in the second game

“I played very patiently, I didn’t hurry,” said Nehwal.  “I left the first game because I had an injury in my leg and I couldn’t practice that much during December and January, so I’m happy to reach the semi-finals here in Basel.”

The Indian was, however, upset with the way the match ended as the last point was called in then out: “I think that this is not good, because when you play a game or match point, you have to not change your decision. Losing this match this way makes me feel bad.”

Wang Yihan will play her compatriot He Bingjiao, who beat the tall defending champion Sun Yu in straight games.  He will be hoping for an early birthday present, as she turns 19 on Monday.

Japan on top

The Japanese women’s doubles played really well tonight as both Matsuo/Naito and Fukuman/Yonao made their way to the final.  Although World Championship semi-finalists, Naoko Fukuman / Kurumi Yonao were the only pair in the semi-finals who have yet to win a major title.  They beat French Open winners Huang/Tang to earn the right to play in the final against the Mexico Grand Prix winners, who beat the Vietnam Open champions earlier on Saturday.

In the mixed, Wang/Chen from China will take on Thailand’s Issara/Amitrapai while the men’s doubles final will feature Denmark’s Astrup/Rasmussen against Lee and Tsai from Chinese Taipei who beat Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong (pictured bottom).

Finals line-up
WD: Naoko Fukuman / Kurumi Yonao (JPN) [3] vs. Shizuka Matsuo / Mami Naito (JPN) [5]
MS: Marc Zwiebler (GER) [7] vs. H. S. Prannoy (IND) [13]
WS: Wang Yihan (CHN) [3] vs. He Bingjiao (CHN)
XD: Bodin Issara / Savitree Amitrapai (THA) vs. Wang Yilyu / Chen Qingchen (CHN)
MD: Lee Sheng Mu / Tsai Chia Hsin [4] vs. Kim Astrup / Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (DEN)

Click here for complete semi-final results