jamesd20
01-23-2006, 06:37 AM
After playing a few games on saturday evening with BF member dgdz, I was even more tired than Saturdays play, and with an exam to think about on monday morning it was diffiult to concentrate considering 4days at AE and no preparation. but I managed to focus for some quality badminton matches.
MS:
Lin Dan was eager from the start. I was worried that his match against LCW would have taken some energy and mental strength from him, and especially against LHI who is a very consistent defensive player, Lin may play too many rallies and tire. The chinese coaches and Lin obviousley realised this too and it was clear from the start Lin wasn't here to mess around with a long game as pervious encounters with LHI. He was accurate and agressive from the start, and contolled LHI very well. Even though there were still some very long attacking rallies he chose his shots well and maintained attcking play. The second game continued this was, and despite a nasty fall and some early dodgy line calls (both ways) he continued with the "no prisoners" attitude and took the match impressively. A worthy winner, and positive signs of added maturity and acknowledgement that he is mortal and needs to adjust his game to his opponent. I place him as favourite for WC even if taufik plays.
MD:
Not wanting to sound too downbeat, but this wasn't a great game. The quality was high, but no real excitment in it. DEN were justifiable winners, who played solidly throughout the tournament with some tough opponents. MAL had no answer, and always seemed off the pace, despite age advantage, there game is reliant on speed and this wasn't good enough.
WS:
Similar feeling as the MD match it was three games, but not an exciting match. Similar in almost everyway to last years final. XXF should win next year too.
WD:
A classic match up. Zhang/Yang have beaten Gao/Huang 4/5 previous meetings, and the first game showed them to be much more powerful and actually quite a lot faster than Gao/Huang. Huang sui was again my Woman of the match though, as she played some truly fantastic defensive shots to break the younger pairs resolve. The third game was an attritional affair. with both pairs not able to finish rallies. Yang Wei was very tired. she just played the shots and waited for the mistakes. At one point Huang sui was talking to to everyone saying "we are all tired" (in CHinese) to the amusement of the (chinese speaking) crowd. Huang and Gao are a delight to watch they work well together and talk a lot. always saying "wo Lai le" (mine) and "jia you" to each other to encourage them. Zhang/Yang were mentally and physically broken by Gao/Huang and Huang was the driving force for Gao as she really didn't want to lose. 6 titles in a row, you can't argue with. a tremendous achievement.
XD:
Two fanastic games of very good mixed doubles play. Nathan/Gail were very keen to attack in the first game to take the edge off ZJ speed and power which they did to great effect and they came back well. Gao played not very well throughout the game, and there were at least three easy net kills she missed or hit out, and countless oppurtunities she missed to seize the advantage from Gail. Gail for the first time outplayed her at the net. She has definitely had a big improvement from the OG, but defence and net kill technique still causes some concern. The second game showed a tremndousperformance from ZJ, he was not relying on smash smash smash game to win the game, but playing more tactically with some clears and soft shots. His defence, normally a weakness was strong and saved them many times. Nathans big weakness is his movement back and many times this gained them the attack as ZJ hoisted the defensive strokes behind him. I said to my wife that I had never seen the ENG pair focus for so long, and the first two games lasted over 70 mins. I said they cannot focus for this long, it is only a matter of time.
ZJ and Gao were so strong mentally even facing the 5 match points they played simple error free stuff and this showed there true class. Turly worthy winners, who can argue with 2 OG golds and WC medals?
The third game was an apalling show of unprofessionalism. Nathan may have been tired, but he just didn't care. I have made it clear I don't like their attitude on court many time on the forum (see Last years AE review and many other posts) but this was the epitome of what I don't like. I feel so sorry for gail as all she could do was stand and let it happen. He let her to the back even. What I am surprised at that ENG fans didn't boo them. I support CHN all the way! The good will out!
Looking forward to next year!!
MS:
Lin Dan was eager from the start. I was worried that his match against LCW would have taken some energy and mental strength from him, and especially against LHI who is a very consistent defensive player, Lin may play too many rallies and tire. The chinese coaches and Lin obviousley realised this too and it was clear from the start Lin wasn't here to mess around with a long game as pervious encounters with LHI. He was accurate and agressive from the start, and contolled LHI very well. Even though there were still some very long attacking rallies he chose his shots well and maintained attcking play. The second game continued this was, and despite a nasty fall and some early dodgy line calls (both ways) he continued with the "no prisoners" attitude and took the match impressively. A worthy winner, and positive signs of added maturity and acknowledgement that he is mortal and needs to adjust his game to his opponent. I place him as favourite for WC even if taufik plays.
MD:
Not wanting to sound too downbeat, but this wasn't a great game. The quality was high, but no real excitment in it. DEN were justifiable winners, who played solidly throughout the tournament with some tough opponents. MAL had no answer, and always seemed off the pace, despite age advantage, there game is reliant on speed and this wasn't good enough.
WS:
Similar feeling as the MD match it was three games, but not an exciting match. Similar in almost everyway to last years final. XXF should win next year too.
WD:
A classic match up. Zhang/Yang have beaten Gao/Huang 4/5 previous meetings, and the first game showed them to be much more powerful and actually quite a lot faster than Gao/Huang. Huang sui was again my Woman of the match though, as she played some truly fantastic defensive shots to break the younger pairs resolve. The third game was an attritional affair. with both pairs not able to finish rallies. Yang Wei was very tired. she just played the shots and waited for the mistakes. At one point Huang sui was talking to to everyone saying "we are all tired" (in CHinese) to the amusement of the (chinese speaking) crowd. Huang and Gao are a delight to watch they work well together and talk a lot. always saying "wo Lai le" (mine) and "jia you" to each other to encourage them. Zhang/Yang were mentally and physically broken by Gao/Huang and Huang was the driving force for Gao as she really didn't want to lose. 6 titles in a row, you can't argue with. a tremendous achievement.
XD:
Two fanastic games of very good mixed doubles play. Nathan/Gail were very keen to attack in the first game to take the edge off ZJ speed and power which they did to great effect and they came back well. Gao played not very well throughout the game, and there were at least three easy net kills she missed or hit out, and countless oppurtunities she missed to seize the advantage from Gail. Gail for the first time outplayed her at the net. She has definitely had a big improvement from the OG, but defence and net kill technique still causes some concern. The second game showed a tremndousperformance from ZJ, he was not relying on smash smash smash game to win the game, but playing more tactically with some clears and soft shots. His defence, normally a weakness was strong and saved them many times. Nathans big weakness is his movement back and many times this gained them the attack as ZJ hoisted the defensive strokes behind him. I said to my wife that I had never seen the ENG pair focus for so long, and the first two games lasted over 70 mins. I said they cannot focus for this long, it is only a matter of time.
ZJ and Gao were so strong mentally even facing the 5 match points they played simple error free stuff and this showed there true class. Turly worthy winners, who can argue with 2 OG golds and WC medals?
The third game was an apalling show of unprofessionalism. Nathan may have been tired, but he just didn't care. I have made it clear I don't like their attitude on court many time on the forum (see Last years AE review and many other posts) but this was the epitome of what I don't like. I feel so sorry for gail as all she could do was stand and let it happen. He let her to the back even. What I am surprised at that ENG fans didn't boo them. I support CHN all the way! The good will out!
Looking forward to next year!!