World No.1 Li out but Lin battles on
Print Edition
WORLD No. 1 Li Xuerui was ousted in the second round of the All England Open when she lost for the first time to fellow Chinese Sun Yu 21-13, 21-13 on Thursday.
Unseeded Sun had never taken a game off her illustrious compatriot in four previous matches.
Meanwhile, five-time champion Lin Dan and 2013 winner Chen Long remained on course to meet in the men’s semifinals.
The departure of Li, the 2012 champion, left the top half of the draw open to Wang Yihan, the 2009 champ, and Saina Nehwal of India, the Olympic bronze medallist, who meet in the quarterfinals, plus Ratchanok Intanon, the 2013 world champ.
“I still haven’t recovered from my foot injury,” Li said.
“I have only been in full training for two weeks, but I came to this tournament because I love it, and I never expected to win the title. I am disappointed, but it’s not a major setback, as I came here to enjoy it.”
Li tried to use her expansive, free-flowing game but was clearly hampered in her movement against Sun. Too many of Li’s floating baseline shots drifted out, and Sun hailed one of her best days on court.
On the men’s side, Lin beat Chinese teammate Tian Houwei 21-15, 21-19. Houwei, eight years younger than Lin at 24, displayed moments of brilliance in keeping Lin on his toes. However, Lin’s reflexes and periods of quick-thinking to create winners into space proved enough.
Lin’s quarterfinal opponent will be Kento Momota of Japan, who edged past Marc Zwiebler of Germany, a former All England semifinalist.
Moreover, Lin was one win away from a possible last-four clash against 2013 champion Chen Long. The world champion had little difficulty in seeing off Chinese Taipei’s Jen Hao-hsu 21-7, 21-9.
Despite the scoreline, it was a hard-thought, 41-minute victory for the world No. 1. From 10-7 up in the opener, he won 11 points in succession.
Wang Yihan was taken to a deciding game by a Japanese opponent for the second time in two matches, eventually seeing off a stiff challenge from hard-hitting Minatsu Mitani 21-23, 21-6, 21-16. Her patience and variation of pace paid off against a visibly tired Mitani.
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