YONEX OPEN JAPAN 2007




	9/16	決勝戦の様子を掲載
	9/15	準決勝の様子を掲載
	9/14	準々決勝の様子を掲載
	9/13	2回戦の様子を掲載
	9/12	1回戦の様子を掲載













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Sep 16th Final of YONEX OPEN JAPAN 2007
On mixed double, world #1 Zheng Bo/Gao Ling (China) played world #2 Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir (Indonesia). They have played 5 matches and the China pair led by winning 3 matches. The last world championship game was on August 2007 and the Indonesian pair won the game. On the 1st set when the scoreboard showed 8 all, Nova Widianto started to show some smashes and drive shots, it worked, the Indonesia pair got 5 consecutive points and led the score. When the Indonesia pair led the score by 17-14, they started to make some mistakes, therefore the China pair could grasp some points. When the China pair led the score by 19-17, Nova Widianto decided to give a long service, then Gao Ling responded by smashing the shuttlecock to grasp a point, and backed by some good play combination the China pair won the 1st set by 21-19. On the 2nd set, from the point of 3 all, the Indonesia pair started to make some mistakes. Since the Indonesia pair started to lose their self confidence, the China pair gradually took some points until they got a match point 20-14 and at this point Gao Ling grasp the last point and the China pair ended the 2nd set and also won the YONEX OPEN 2007 tournament. "I wish the Olympic game will be tomorrow", Gao Ling said, "Zheng Bo played better at the last minute, we felt relief", Gao Lin said.

Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia, world ranked no.4), who beat Lin Dan (China, world ranked no.1) in the semi-final yesterday faced Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia, currently world ranked no.10 and a runner up at the YONEX OPEN JAPAN 2006) in the Men’s Singles today at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. As of today Taufik leads 4-2 head to head. In the first game, Taufik started the game by striking back hand smash to the cross court which Lee returned flat shot to the net and won the first point. The packed funs in the gymnasium enjoyed the thrilling rallies between these two world famous singles players breathlessly. Taufik looked dominated the rallies during the first game in placing shuttles 4 corners and net very offensively, however actually Lee looked forced Taufik to place the shuttle where Lee could easily anticipate it. Lee played calm and showed the audience a very sound and beautifully controlled defense against Taufik's continuous attacks. Lee closed the first game from 20-20 to 21-20, then 22-20. The last point was very easily secured by Lee because Taufik smashed and rushed into net of his right hand fore court to receive Lee’s smash return and he thought it was “out” but it was actually called “good ”. In the second game, Lee led with big margin 15-9 one time, however Taufik caught up with Lee by wining consecutive 8 points in a row and succeeded in reversing the game to 17-15. And then both players went to 18-18 before Taufik eventually closed the second game at 21-19 to tie and go to the final game, however it seems that Taufik spent somewhat all his talent and power and consumed his energy and stamina in this game, Lee seemed to have built up his confidence to win the Olympic Gold Medalist in this match after all. Lee started his play again with very solid defense and managed to maneuver his body towards Taufik's tricky shots in the court for the final game and secured the first match point easy at 20-14. However again Taufik came back and threatened Lee very seriously. The packed audience was also forced to think that Taufik might win the game like the second game because Taufik once again won 5 consecutive points in a row before bowing to Lee Chong Wei at 21-19. After the match, Taufik said he was satisfied with this fierce battle with Lee and it was beyond my control that the string was torn off during the rally at 20-19. “Only God knows.” Lee Chong Wei expressed his joy of victory and said that he had not thought to be able to win this title before the match. We will remember this match between Lee Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat for a long time as one of the best match in the finals under new scoring system.


In the women’s singles, Tine Rasmussen (Denmark) faced Xie Xingfang (China). Rasmussen, world ranked no.14, defeated Huaien Xu(world ranked no.5) at the first round, Jiang Yanjiao （world ranked no.13）14-21, 21-13, 21-9 at the second, Ning Zang (world ranked no.1) 21-13,16-21,21-18 at the quarter-final, then Lan Lu (world ranked no.7) 21-19,21-9 at the Semi-final. With these amazing victories, Rasmussen was perfectly ready to meet Xie Xingfang at the final today. Meanwhile, Xingfang advanced to the final, beating Judith Meulendijks(Netherland, world ranked no.26) 15-21, 21-14,21-18 at the first round, Mew Choo Wong (Malaysia, world ranked no.9) 21-9,21-15 at the second round, Hongyan Pi (France, world ranked no.6) 21-15,21-16 at the quarter-final, then Jae Youn Jun (Korean,world ranked no.69, qualified by beating Kanako Yonekura, Japan in the qualification) 21-9,21-17 at the semi-final yesterday. Xie told the press yesterday that she did not expect what had happened among Chinese players so far in Tokyo, however one can not stop that this kind of upsets might happen once in while. On the court side, Lin Dan sit in Xie’s coach’s bench and Morten Frost and peter Gade were Tine’s bench. It is obvious for the spectators in the hall that both, Xie and Tine could display their all abilities with a lot of self confidence that was supported and endorsed by their trusted coaches. Tine started to the game with confidence by managing somehow or other to return Xie’s drops and smash into her rear back hand court and waiting for the best chances to make a cross court smash and/or sliced shot towards Xie’s left hand foreside of the court. These shots were very effective and sometimes Xie was not be able to even touch the shuttle cock. Xie caught up with Tine from 10-18 to 15-18, however Tine closed the first game at 21-15. In the second game, Xie leads all the way upto 16-15, however Tine smashed Xie’s body precisely and took the lead of the game at 17-16. Xie caught up again and equalized 17-17,but the Tine gained a match point first, which Xie smashed to the net. Tine closed the second game at 21-17 and was crowned the first super series after beating all top Chinese players. Tine commented after the match, she did not expect this happens, may be Chinese players are little bit nervous to play with me. Of course, Morten and Peter shares 50% of this very proud victory with me.

The final match of women’s doubles was played between Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen(China) and Zhao Tingting/Yu Yang(China). 5th seeded, newly formed duo, Zhao/Yu came up to the final today. Zhao Tingting this time faced to her old partner, Yang Wei. Upto middle of the first game, Yang/Zhan leads 8-5 and keeps the lead to close the game with safe margin at 21-17. In the second game, Yang/Zhan sped up their pace with confidence backed back by win the first game. Yang placed the shuttle where Zhao/Yu could not return deeply enough to the opponent court and then Zhan smashed very strongly to make a killer shot. Yang/Zhan took the lead from the start of the second game and reached to 11points easily. Zhao/Yu struggled to make a point and tried to control the net but it was not successful. Yang/Zhan closed the game at 21-5 and won the match 2-0.
In the men’s doubles final, all 4 Indonesians represent world top class doubles performance and Tony and Candra were in style. Luluk Hadiyanto/AlvenYulianto Chandra, who defeated world champion Kido/Setiawan in the semi-final yesterday. Upto the middle of the first game, Hadiyanto/Chandra leads at 14-11. Hadiyanto placed the shuttle downwards from net successfully and this generates opportunity for Chandra to make a killer shots. Tony/Candra, however started to counterattack by flat play with strong smashes which resulted in 4 points consecutive gain in a row. To win the first game at 21-18. Tony and Candra did not give any chance to Luluk/Alven for them to lead the game from the beginning the second game and leads to 8-4. Candra/Tony displayed perfect receive and controlled return and if the cocks fly back to their air, they attacked fireball smashes Luluk/Alven relentlessly. When Tony/Candra leads 19-14, Luluk/Alven caught up with them to 19-17, however finally Tony/Candra wrapped up the game (21-17) to win the match 2-0. After the match, Tony/Candra hit the shuttlecocks towards young funs in the stadium as a small souvenirs. Tony/Candra expressed their thanks to Japanese funs and supporters including YONEX that made this duo to win the title here in Tokyo for the YONEX OPEN JAPAN 2007.