Just wondering if anyone here is planning to visit US Open. I haven't seen the lineup yet, but considering that both Peter Gade and Peter Rasmussen are playing it should be worth watching. Peter Gade lost his IBF ranking, so he will most likely have to go through the qualifying rounds, which will could mean that he will meet the seeded Peter Rasmussen pretty early in the tournament... No all-Danish final in other words. By the way, yesterday, in his first match after his operation, Peter Gade beat Chen Gang in two straight games. Although Chen Gang is a former Junior World Champ and a decent player, the victory is perhaps not a true indicator of Gade's current form... Anyway, I'm glad that he's back on court!
Sorry, I forgot to mention, that was a Danish club match. Chen Gang is playing for Odense this season, and Odense met Gentofte, which is Gade's club.
maybe, our group is still debating. it is going to be a looong drive, probably around 8 hours each way from here. and i wonder if that's worth it. if it is the WC/TC/UC/SC, definitely, i would take a week off and pitch a tent outside the stadium.
It's probably the last chance to see Gade and Rasmussen in action in the US. This is a tournament they normally don't play, now they play it because they need match practise before the Danish Open... I would go if I were you! In a sense, you almost have an obligation to go. US Badminton really needs a discerning audience. Since this is rather a small tournament, I guess it wouldn't be too hard getting interviews either... A couple of BC exclusives, maybe? Oh come on, of course you are going!
Just read on WorldBadminton that Tony Gunawan is also playing... How can even consider not going?! Didn't I hear you guys whining before about the lack of badminton interest in the US? Shame!
Gade vs Rasmussen They're not in the same half of the draw now that Gade doesn't have to go through the qualifying rounds. An all-Danish MS final seems the most likely alternative. Gade and Rasmussen have been training extensively together lately as part of their respective recovery processes, and they know each other well so it could well turn out to be an epic battle... By the way, Gade has only lost to one Danish player during the last five years: Rasmussen... It's really hard to say anything about either of these players at the moment, as they have been recovering for so long from injuries. My guess is that Rasmussen could have the upper edge this time.
ok. ok. so i am going. all these guilt trip... you guys make me feel like a sinner if i don't go. there will be 8 of us, some are going down to watch the semi, but we are just going down for the finals on saturday. why is it that they decide to have the finals on saturday and semi on friday? if they have the semi on saturday and finals on sunday, then i can watch both! i hope it will be fun. my prediction would be: Peter vs. Peter Tony/Malaythong vs. Kevin/Howard Tony/Tantri vs. Simon/partner
I think the AE had one period where they played the finals on a saturday. Not sure of the rationale but maybe they were trying to get the finals on to prime time TV. For US Open, from what I gather, OCBC is a commercial enterprise (courts cost 28USD/hr!!!) so they might be losing a lot of money by staging the finals over two days on the w/end. This could be the reason.
You guys are really lucky to watch gade in action... He is prob the smoothest on court of all contemproary players.... As we are all interetsed to know whether he is going to shift to Mp 77 or Mp 90... If he is still using slim 10 then it is going to surprise a lot of plp... Thanks boys we are all waiting...
Looks like he's still using the Iso Slim 10 from this picture taken from worldbadminton covering the tournament.... http://www.worldbadminton.net/getstory.asp?id=676
slim10. Yonex seems to be pushing the mp77. Taufik tried it, and Peter tried it. but at the end. they went back to their original racket. which pro is using the mp77 now?
