ST. Jakobshalle, Basel txt: Dille Andersen, WBSO,Int.Press photo: topbadminton.com The 2007 WBSO Wilson Badminton Swiss Open finals have started. The first final of the day was the Mixed Doubles, between Greysia Polii/Muhammad Rijal, INA, and the 5/8 seed Koreans Lee Hyo Jung/Lee Dae Yong. First game was dominated by Polii/Rijal playing fast back and forth and being srongest at the net. Although especially Lee Hyo Jung tried to put pressure on Polii throughout the game the Indonesian kept returning the shuttles and turning a defense into an attack. Polii/Rijal won the first game 21-14. Second game saw Muhammad Rijal as a 'magician'! He performed shots not mentioned in any textbook and - on top opf that - had the luck to succeed with it. Lee/Lee managed to hold on a long way in the second game although they were very busy defending! A mere pleasure was to watch the incredible fast play by the net, changing with shots to the back court! The two sides tacked along on the score board to 14-14 at which time Lee/Lee got a small breakaway to 17-14. They expanded that to take the second game 21-16 by intensifying their powerful play! In the decisive game, the Koreans started exactly where they left of in the second. They kept meeting the shuttle head on, making every return from Polii/Rijal into a counter attack. For a long time it looked like the Koreans picking the longest straw but Polii/Rijal equalized to 11-11 and all was yet again open. The end of the match was highly intense! The sides took turns in 2-ponts lead and KOR got the first match point at 20-17 as Polii missed a pickup at the net. But first INA survived the first. Then it was over! The last shuttle of this final went into the net!
Congrats to both pairs .... Yet I felt that it was an opportunity missed for Indonesians to make their mark, Lee Hyo Jung was uncomfortable in certain periods and Greysia was able to dominate the net on most occasions. Like Lilyana, she too has exceptional talent. But never mind, Greysia/Rizal could turn out to be more stable than Nova/Lilyana.
