So much talk about Viktor losing to the Hong Kong player. He'd just played in a super series event and reached the quarters and then travelled halfway around the world so was obviously tired. If you watch footage of the other men's singles players, none of them are anywhere even close to Viktors level. He's within the top 15 players in the world at the moment and the rest of the WJC field still play like juniors. Zulfadli Zulkiffli couldn't even qualify for the Belgian open in September and he's seeded second. I doubt Viktor will even drop a set on his way to holding his title.
Looks like it's going to be a loooooooooong, busy Day 1. 8 courts full. No seeds are slated to appear until 1:40 in the MS. First close encounter wis an MD match between RUS and CAN. CAN 16-15 in the rubber. Come on boys!
...and the Leafs take it 19-21, 21-19, 21-16 !!! and now, Christin Tsai of CAN is bossing it over Chole Birch of England in Game 1 of Girls singles, 17-8
Another Canadian off to a good start. Christin Tsai (of Taiwanese origin?) takes G1 easily against ENG girl Chloe Birch 21-9
Meanwhile, in the WD (GD?) play, Chen/Kao of Chinese Taipei are handing out a lesson to USA's Tong/Ye 21-7, 17-5... and Fukushima/Shinoya of Japan are doing likewise with Choong/Lai of Malaysia, 21-14, 5-3
A mixed bag for Chris' Australia though, so far... Vinning Mak looks like she's losing: to Sri Lanka's Thilini Hendahewa, but Wendy Chen is showing the way to Aya Taysser of Egypt. BTW, it appears TS is muddling up some first names and surnames again...
Fukushima/Shinoya of Japan are running into resistance / heavy weather against Choong/Lai of Malaysia in game 2 but are keeping their nose just ahead....
Chalk up one more for Canada. Christin Tsai wins comfortably in the end, over England's Chloe Birch, 21-9, 21-12
And the JPN WD pair edges out the MAS one 21-19. So far a good day for JPN knocking off 2 difficult opponents in KOR (MD) and MAS (WD)
Meanwhile the WS between Cheung (HK) and Lin (TPE) is about to start the rubber. Rubbers have been a rarity in the early going. Lin 2-0
