SWISS OPEN 2017 SF – Lin gets chance for All England revenge

By Raphael Sachetat. Photos: Sven Heise for Badzine (live)

He had deprived the world for the much awaited final between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan…and then lost the final. Shi Yuqi will once again be in the limelight on Sunday in Basel, when he takes on his elder compatriot Lin Dan for the title here. Lin Dan (photo) had a tough match against Indonesia’s new jewel Anthony Ginting, but the Chinese wonder managed to keep it in straight games – 21-17, 21-17.

Shi Yuqi, meanwhile, had to go the distance, battling three games against Wang Tzu Wei of Chinese Taipei, for almost an hour. In the women’s singles too, China is assured of getting gold, as World Junior Champion Chen Yufei will play an unexpected guest – world #64 Chen Xiaoxin – who beat Indonesia’s 7^th seed Fitriani.  The match-up between the two Chens will itself be a repeat of the Macau Open final.

The upset of the day in the semi-final was the win by Thai duo Sapsiree Taerattanachai /Dechapol Puavaranukroh against world number one Zheng Siwei / Chen Qingchen in an epic battle which ended in a 21-19 victory in the last game for the Thais. Indonesia’s Debby Susanto and Praveen Jordan (photo) also had a scare against Zhang Nan and Li Yinhui but eventually booked their ticket for the final.

England’s top men’s doubles pair of Chris Langridge / Marcus Ellis (pictured bottom) had a good second game against Zhang Nan and Liu Cheng, but the All England semi-finalists came out on top 21-9, 21-19 and will take on their compatriots Hong Wei / Chai Biao. Europe still has a chance to shine with the Stoeva sisters playing in the final against top seeds Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan.

Finals line-up:
WS:  Chen Xiaoxin (CHN) [3] vs. Chen Yufei (CHN)
XD:  Praveen Jordan / Debby Susanto (INA) [2] vs. Sapsiree Taerattanachai / Dechapol Puavaranukroh (THA) [3]
WD:  Chen Qingchen /Jia Yifan (CHN) [1] vs. Gabriela Stoeva / Stefani Stoeva (BUL) [4]
MD:  Hong Wei / Chai Biao (CHN) [1] vs. Liu Cheng / Zhang Nan (CHN)
MS:  Lin Dan (CHN) [1] vs. Shi Yuqi (CHN) [2]

Click here for complete semi-final results