View Full Version : AE 2009 Final Review


jamesd20
03-09-2009, 04:37 PM
And Finally................

Mens Singles:

More one sided than the scores suggest. LD was on auto pilot. Yes he got pushed further than before, but that has to be expected as LCW is the No.1 in the world (On Ranking). Lin was not pushed and he simply gae back whatever LCW threw at him.

I found it funny in the first game as LCW Gave a flick serve to Lin which wrong footed Lin, the next Serve Lin has he does the same to LCW!! It is like whatever LD does Lin takes it as an affront and shows he can wrong foot him too...he did it on a few other types of shot too.

Since 2007 Lin has matured no end. His is less arrogant on court, more polite and less adversarial on line calls. Quite simply because he can be he is self assured he doesn't need those dodgy decisions to win. He is more restrained with his celebrations of points. I extolled his performance in the OG Final, and hoped he would repeat this in AE. He didn't quite but it was not because he couldn't he was a touch more playful.

Basically Lin is faster, more powerful, more aware of his tactics, stronger mentally and in control of himself. LCW however is slower, cannot sustain his high level for long enough periods and seems not to know how to use his ability. Previsouly I have though LCW could beat LCW but on this perfomance LD is puching his boundaries and LCW has relapsed.

For me the game was up at 12-11 to lin in the 2nd. By that time when Lin went 10-8 up LCW knew he could not let him take a lead as he had to win the game. LCW noticeably picked up his pace and tried to get to the shuttle earlier. But 5 points later LCW was blowing, the push hadn't worked and I said to My Mrs "the games over" LD was not stressed by the upping of the pace and when LCW puffed LD swept him aside.

Womens Singles

A really frustrating Game. The game showed the fragility of the WS game at the moment. TR simply cannot afford to giv 10+ points every game (Without fail), and CHN WS need to learn how to play tactically again. For too long their skill alone has been enough. Now they are less able relatively they need think more.

Against Tine the tactic should be simple - She is Big, immobile and has powerful stroke play overhead. So play fast make her off balance & she cannot use the strokes and the error count will rise further.

WYH did this OK, but not perfectly. The High serve employed by her was on the whole good - Although seemingly at odds with the above tactics the alternative is worse - a lower high serve feeds her smash and a short serve either forces her to net and get the lift (which is likely to be shorter than a high serve) or she can flick off the net and put the opponent under pressure from the beginning.

WYH style of Flat clears and sharp attacks is suited to beating Tine. Tine's strokes are good but WYH is not so quick off the split step as she could be (She Jumps too much) so was left flat footed by a large number of TR's drops.

Tine Simply needs to keep shuttles over the net and in the court.....If she can she can be all conquering in todays WS game....but she is 27 now and can she change - It is an obvious flaw. IMO she is only at the top as the average level has dropped....

The fragility of the game - Lack of top level players and a feeling of both players could have done more.

Mens Doubles

Cai/Fu played a good game. As mentioned in previous days they broke up the game well, defended well and were much more interchangeable back/front than previously. Cai is more agressive and controlling at the net (Previously he was creative but error prone, now he takes charge and doesn't let the opp get to the net) Fu is more consistent at charging forward and pushing as he used to hit a lot into the net/out of court or into the opp hitting zone)

As stated in the SF review I Don't know why this KOR pair made the final. They are are bit cumbersome with no obvisously killful front man. They seem both to be rearcourt players, but without the big smashes. Cai/Fu defence has improved but partly the attacks were not as strong.

Deserving winners, but undeserving opponents IMO. CHN took out the main threats in earlier rounds.

Womens Doubles

Not really a lot to say about this really. The Injury sustained to Chen Shu's Leg in the previous 3 setters outlines her need to get physically stronger. And also made this a bit of a damp squid. They didn't have the power to get through them although ZYL is defintely creative and one for the future. The match really highlighted how much more power ZTT/ZYW have than CS/ZYL. Also remember that ZTT/ZYW are previous not the bruisers so how far in the power department the younger pair have to go.

Mixed Doubles

HHB was nervous in the first game. Reluctant to be aggressive and dropping to many times. Yu Yang outlined her class throughout. I am a big fan.

Once the nerves settled however CHN were Clearly the better. Ko makes many errors. The CHN pair are surely due to win many more titles.

Improvements can be made though espcially in HHB. He seems to lack mobility around the court and leaves gaps he can't cover in the court. He has good shots, but more agility would benefit the pair. His tactics are sometimed awry, but he is young and this will come in time if taught properly. Yu Yang grows in confidence everytime I see her and she will dominate the net area for years to come IMO.

What I really like about the pair though is their teamwork they talk, laugh and are very expressive. I was a fair distance from them but when HHB had 20-7 his face lit up with relief. They are very expressive on court which is nice.

Roll on 2010 and the 100th Championships I say.............

yen_saw
03-09-2009, 04:46 PM
James it would be a waste if you are not badminton analysist for a newspaper:D Thanks for sharing your thought on the games:)

jamesd20
03-09-2009, 04:50 PM
James it would be a waste if you are not badminton analysist for a newspaper:D Thanks for sharing your thought on the games:)

Actually I find it hard to read my stuff. Too fractured and wishy washy. No proper sentence structure & grammar. Just speak from the heart, Say what I see......I won't give up the day Job. BC is my media....

yen_saw
03-09-2009, 05:08 PM
Actually I find it hard to read my stuff. Too fractured and wishy washy. No proper sentence structure & grammar. Just speak from the heart, Say what I see......I won't give up the day Job. BC is my media....

Well those mis-spelling can be sorted with Spell-check;) When it comes to sport who cares about grammar:D is the thought that counts right;)

sudirman
03-09-2009, 06:08 PM
thanks for sharing, I was told the same, ZYL will be the next GL but it's hard to believe that ZYL can really reach that level.

ctjcad
03-09-2009, 06:21 PM
And Finally................
(Finals recap snipped for brevity)
..another good read..:cool:
Couple of comments:
- What do you think of the chances for LinDan going and tying Rudy Hartono's long held AE record of 8 AE MS titles? Or maybe even breaking it?:)
- I thought the WS match, imo, was the most entertaining one.:) Esp. the 2nd game. WYH could've closed shop but, i guess, it wasn't meant to be. Interesting thing is, while watching it throught the webcast, right after the end of the 2nd game, i could see WYH's face & body language looking so serious, as if someone had stolen her Hello Kitty doll; i mean one could tell she was probably really2 upset @ losing that game. Of course, in the 3rd game, Tine was gassed & just all over the place as WYH didn't seem tired nor affected by the 2nd game.

suetyan
03-09-2009, 07:16 PM
..another good read..:cool:
Couple of comments:
- What do you think of the chances for LinDan going and tying Rudy Hartono's long held AE record of 8 AE MS titles? Or maybe even breaking it?:)
- I thought the WS match, imo, was the most entertaining one.:) Esp. the 2nd game. WYH could've closed shop but, i guess, it wasn't meant to be. Interesting thing is, while watching it throught the webcast, right after the end of the 2nd game, i could see WYH's face & body language looking so serious, as if someone had stolen her Hello Kitty doll; i mean one could tell she was probably really2 upset @ losing that game. Of course, in the 3rd game, Tine was gassed & just all over the place as WYH didn't seem tired nor affected by the 2nd game.
yup, she really felt very upset when she lost the second set. She said actually she can win the match in 2 sets, but she was a bit nervous there..

ctjcad
03-09-2009, 07:33 PM
..the Finals thread, i mentioned Tine was kinda expecting WYH to be nervous (during her post-match interview with Gail Emms).

suetyan
03-09-2009, 07:43 PM
..the Finals thread, i mentioned Tine was kinda expecting WYH to be nervous (during her post-match interview with Gail Emms).
Actually Tine should not expect Yihan to be nervous in the final. If she did watch the game between Yihan and ZM, she should have change her way of thinking. Yihan could handle every crucial moment when facing ZM, especially in the 3rd game. When ZM was leading 19-15 and still unable to convert her game. Maybe Tine thought that Yihan is young and Yihan has all the weaknesses a teenager might have. However, the fact is that, Yihan is becoming more mature in every match.

ctjcad
03-09-2009, 07:49 PM
..Tine thought the nervousness factor is due to WYH's first appearance in the AE Final..

samuel882
03-09-2009, 07:52 PM
I dont know either how does the Korean MD pair manage to surge all the way into finals :(

suetyan
03-09-2009, 07:58 PM
..Tine thought the nervousness factor is due to WYH's first appearance in the AE Final..
haha, maybe :D

I dont know either how does the Korean MD pair manage to surge all the way into finals :(
I think they were lucky. I also don't know why ZB/MJ could beat LYD/LHJ, lucky also?? :rolleyes:

cooler
03-09-2009, 08:00 PM
..Tine thought the nervousness factor is due to WYH's first appearance in the AE Final..
Nod, i would too be nervous on my blind date:D

michael23
03-10-2009, 01:34 AM
Been watching some of the MD matches. Fastest smash I saw was clocked at 291km/h by Fu Hai Feng in the finals. However that's some 40km/h off his record smash 4 years ago. Could it be that the radar equipment they used in the old tournaments are not as accurate?

volcom
03-10-2009, 01:36 AM
Been watching some of the MD matches. Fastest smash I saw was clocked at 291km/h by Fu Hai Feng in the finals. However that's some 40km/h off his record smash 4 years ago. Could it be that the radar equipment they used in the old tournaments are not as accurate?
Could be, as everyones smashes in this tourney are slower.
in Madrid Lind Dan without warming up much smashed 303km/hr and CH easily smashed around 300km/hr

narnia
03-10-2009, 01:44 AM
Been watching some of the MD matches. Fastest smash I saw was clocked at 291km/h by Fu Hai Feng in the finals. However that's some 40km/h off his record smash 4 years ago. Could it be that the radar equipment they used in the old tournaments are not as accurate?

Could be. It's very sensitive. You should measure the distance in 5ms. The 332 km/h was measured at Sudirman Cup that's held in CHINA.

cooler
03-10-2009, 01:45 AM
Been watching some of the MD matches. Fastest smash I saw was clocked at 291km/h by Fu Hai Feng in the finals. However that's some 40km/h off his record smash 4 years ago. Could it be that the radar equipment they used in the old tournaments are not as accurate?
yes, laser light is the same but how it is calibrated for different brand of gun and at what angle the shots are made makes a difference.

narnia
03-10-2009, 01:49 AM
I dont know either how does the Korean MD pair manage to surge all the way into finals :(

Yes, they were lucky. see the route (http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draw.aspx?id=F52CFDF6-3AB9-4A29-820C-CE30E6D7D260&draw=5).

The only obstacle they faced was Fuzzy of MAS. For the match with LYD/SBC, i don't know why; maybe as they were seniors to them, L/S might have been a bit discouraged to win. I think if L/S could advance to the Final, Cai/Fu would have more difficulty to get the title. L/S had just got the title of 2009 German Open.

jamesd20
03-10-2009, 03:17 AM
..another good read..:cool:
Couple of comments:
- What do you think of the chances for LinDan going and tying Rudy Hartono's long held AE record of 8 AE MS titles? Or maybe even breaking it?:)
- I thought the WS match, imo, was the most entertaining one.:) Esp. the 2nd game. WYH could've closed shop but, i guess, it wasn't meant to be. Interesting thing is, while watching it throught the webcast, right after the end of the 2nd game, i could see WYH's face & body language looking so serious, as if someone had stolen her Hello Kitty doll; i mean one could tell she was probably really2 upset @ losing that game. Of course, in the 3rd game, Tine was gassed & just all over the place as WYH didn't seem tired nor affected by the 2nd game.

8 Titles.........alongway off. I have no doubt he could do it but it is how long he plays for. another 4 would mean playing beyond 2012, which is unlikley so breaking it would mean winning it until 2014....:eek: Plus other players may come about. 6 Consecutive final appearances in this age is a tremendous achievement.

WYH was nervous. She wanted to play points very fast, taking little time between points. Everytime it was her waiting for TR to be ready. She is expressive. I like her. Yes she had a lot of desire to win, this is very different from the other WS CHN players at the moment. ZM was her toughestgame IMO she worked andworked and worked....

venkatesh
03-10-2009, 03:43 AM
Well those mis-spelling can be sorted with Spell-check;) When it comes to sport who cares about grammar:D is the thought that counts right;)

Jamesd20 could always hire a copyeditor. Ahem ... :D