I never expect Hu Yun to beat JOJ. To beat Chen Long and JOJ in succession is no small achievement. Has Hu Yun found a new formula for winning at this late stage of his badminton career? We will see tomorrow.
You didn't answer. I watched the match yesterday, if LD played like in the first 10 minutes then he would won easily. But JOJ didn't allow him to do that. IMO, LD couldn't win.
I agree. LD is a bit out of shape and not as sharp. LD actually looked a bit tired in the last set. LD has traditionally had trouble against "rally" type players such as Park Sung Hwan and JOJ who can smash to finish the point. The exception is Tien Minh Ngyuen because Tien has a really weak smash and thus can't finish the point, even though he is a rally type player. If you compare Park Sung Hwan and JOJ, they have a very similar play style where they just like to rally and rally. Also, LD has traditionally had a "6th" gear that he can shift to and outplay any other player when he needs to. When LD is in is 6th gear, nobody can beat him, not even LCW. LD is in a class of his own. But LD was unable to increase the level of his play to the "6th gear" at the end of the first set yesterday against JOJ. It will take LD a few more tournaments and more training to get back to his previous level.
JOJ is a choking player, and he choked once more. HK players are not the same as CHN players. HK team is fully independant, there is no LYB here. GC praises LCW, and that is normal, as LCW is a fantastic player. It is not a bias to say so.
FINALS (02.00pm local time) => https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/...80B9BD-6286-44AA-A4C1-4DD08895509F&d=20140615 WS - Li Xuerui (CHN) v Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) H-2-H stats : 7-0 The Olympic Champion is clear favourite to win her first ever JPN SS title after three times in a row to be SS runner-up in this year lost to her compatriots Wangs (All England, India Open, Singapore Open). Last meeting between Li v Tai was last month Uber Cup group stage, two games victory for world #1. We only hope Tai will deliver some resistance for Li tomorrow. WD, Kakiiwa/Maeda v Matsutomo/Takahashi H-2-H : 0-2 The higher seeded pair will grab their maiden SS title. Two KOR pairs failed to deny all JPN finals, this is a breakthrough by Japanese ladies as China non stop domination in WD discipline. MS, Lee Chong Wei v Hu Yun H-2-H : 6-0 Not Lin Dan or Chen Long even Jorgensen but the veteran HKG player who will face Lee CW in Sunday's final. After downed number #2 & #3 seed in last eight and last four respectively maybe only super miracle that needed by Hu Yun to overcome defending champion here. MD, Ahsan/Setiawan v Lee YD/Yoo YS H-2-H : 1-3 The most interesting clash of 5 finals. Last meeting, INA pair won with very close margin of three games in Thomas Cup quarterfinal. All four straigt-sets convincing winnings by the Korean MD en route to finale while world #1 had trouble in first & second round to play extra game. XD, Zhang N/Zhao YL v Fuchs/Michels H-2-H : 5-0 The Chinese pair will defend their title but nothing to lose for Fuchs/Michels as the underdog may spur extra spirit to perform their best as The Adcocks did it in HKG Open last year.
