AUTHOR : CLELY

2015 The STAR AUSTRALIAN Open Super Series : FINALS (31st May) **DISCUSSION THREAD**

Venue : Sports Centre Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney-AUS

Total prize-money : US$750,000

Tournament website : http://www.australianbadmintonopen.com.au/

Tournamentsofware link : http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sp…4-9A933DBA0736

Tournament time-table : http://www.australianbadmintonopen.com.au/schedule

Sydney time : http://www.australianbadmintonopen.com.au/schedule

BWF World Superseries link : http://bwfworldsuperseries.com/tourn…ustralian-open

BWF Live Streaming Youtube link : https://www.youtube.com/user/bwf

The finishing line of the The Star Australian Open Super Series will kick off, starting 13.00h local time => http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sp…736&d=20150531

China has representatives in all five categories with the ladies doubles title secured and probably likely to have more. A Hong Kong mixed doubles pair and a Danish young star will eye their maiden Super Series title.

XD, Liu Cheng/Bao Yixin (CHN) v Reginald Lee Chun Hei/Chau Hoi Wah (HKG)
H-2-H stats : 3-0
The Chinese rising pair is favoured to top the podium but Lee/Chau may spoil the party as they did to beat a series of more favoured opponents, Jordan/Susanto, Fischer/Pedersen and Ahmad/Natsir en route to the final. Looking at the scoreline of all their three previous meetings, it’ll be close match tomorrow. It is the first Super Series final for the Hong Kong pair while Liu/Bao collected their first Super Series title in India last March.

WD, Tang Jinhua/Tian Qing (CHN) v Ma Jin/Tang Yuanting (CHN)
H-2-H : 0-0
China is unstoppable in producing new ladies doubles combinations with the same high quality. No wonder the ladies doubles titles almost certainly goes to China in most of major tournaments including Super Series events. Ma/Tang is more compact than Tang/Tian but the latter, particularly Tian Qing, are vastly experienced double specialists. Tian Qing is the Olympic and World Champion and also defending champion partnered with Zhao Yunlei.

MS, Chen Long (CHN) v Viktor Axelsen (DEN)
H-2-H : 3-0
Viktor Axelsen is playing his best badminton along this week to eliminate two elite shuttlers, world no.2 and Olympic Champion, Lin Dan (R/32) also his fancied senior world no.3 Jan O Jorgensen (semifinal). It would be a happy ending for him if he could clear last hurdle tomorrow who is none other than the world no.1 Chen Long who was only troubled by qualifier Gurusaidutt (R/32). It’s going to be interesting to watch the battle of tall players.

WS, Carolina Marin (ESP) v Wang Shixian (CHN)
H-2-H : 1-2
A tough task awaits for Wang SX to win over the confident and on fire World Champion Carolina Marin. The 21 years old Spaniard has good start in this year and she is  showing the consistency as her world rank leaped to top three. For Wang SX, it’s time to prove that she’s still capable to beat the top ranked ladies. The last time she advanced to final at the Super Series level was in the French Open last November.

MD, Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong (KOR) v Liu Cheng/Lu Kai (CHN)
H-2-H : 0-0
A convincing performance and all straight-sets wins at previous rounds by the world no.1, Lee YD/Yoo YS. They are predicted to defend their title against China’s surprising new pair Liu C/Lu K who dumped world champions Ko SH/Shin BC (quarterfinal) and 7th seeds Liu XL/Qiu ZH (semifinal). Will the new China partnership shock the clear favourite Korean pair?