Anyone else notice how LD lifted to the back a lot more after than first game? after Santoso pounced on his net shots on a number of occasion he adjusted accordingly, and by the third game Santoso was left completely out of ideas
The Dan is back! Those first two games were first class. Lucky (or unlucky) that Lin Dan is not in the World Championships.
What sets LD apart is that he has so many ways of winning points. Its not just a big smash, he has best defense and net shots and in-between shots.
LD was tense at the end of game 1, also a bit towards end of game 2. But hey, SS played such a good match in the first 2 games. Amazing how LD finished the third game. That was brilliant and showed what he can do. Remarkable is his stamina over 1h 15min!! NIce
Congrats LD for the first SS title this year! That was good game and suitable for closed the final day. The MS category is more interesting nowadays with few players come up to challenge LD and LCW. I would name Kenichi Tago, Jan O Jorgensen, and Simon Santoso to join the elite MS player at the moment. Really expecting the next tournaments ahead.
This is how LD played in WC 2013 - just rally, rally, rally, and defend. LD rarely smashed and was conserving his energy. The difference between SS and JOJ is that JOJ was able to take the lead and forced LD to attack. By the 3rd set, LD looked a bit more tired than JOJ which is the big difference between this 3rd set against SS. If you can't take the lead against LD and force him to attack, LD will be more than happy to rally, rally, and rally you until your energy is depleted. LD likes to make you smash so you waste your energy while LD will be happy to defend your smashes. LD had so much more energy saved up than SS in the 3rd set - it looked like LD could play a 4th set if he had to.
Yes, Lin Dan is able to think on his feet, coaching himself - at the intervals he was doing more of the talking than coach Li Zhifeng, gesturing knowingly.
Wow. I was enjoying the match so much, I didnt come on to BC. Went back to page 27 and there are so many posts on the doom and gloom of Lin Dan! We (and the rest of the world) can never write off Lin Dan.
LD has returned!!! His new goal now is to be the best he can in badminton, his old love. He has experimented with other interests, has perhaps achieved new goals during the interim period of his layoff, including that of cultivating a happy marriage and family. We can look forward to seeing more of this veteran in the international circuit.
Too many people here think that just because LD is losing, he is slower, not as good, etc, etc, etc. I wonder who looked slower in that 3rd set. If you have been watching LD enough, you would know he is a master of managing his energy. For somebody of LD's caliber, no need to waste your energy in the 1st and 2nd set. Just manage your energy and stamina so you make the opponent look like a fool by the 3rd set.
what a player. total domination on the court. His game is poetry in motion so easy on the eye. i wish he was from India.
In the end, a wonderful display by Lin Dan despite several uncharacteristic errors. What a finale ! A crescendo from G1, to G2 and ultimately G3. The best part (scary for others?) is Lin Dan can only get better in his new,transformed style of play as time goes by, knowing him.
LD, y u so mean Depleting SS stamina into the last drop of his fuel. Then unleash that barrage of smash and still toying sometimes pushing SS deep to baseline backhand and left completely stranded
Indeed, what a sumptuous treat from Lin Dan on Finals day ! I'm the guilty one, unduly apprehensive, somewhat negative, when I saw the many amateurish errors he committed in the first two games. Boy, am I glad he proves me wrong, coming back strongly towards the end, esp in the 3rd set.
Forgive me, mate. Did you watch the match live (watching the replay later won't have the same effect)? If you did, I think you would understand why I reacted that way in the beginning until the 2nd half of G2. It's only in the 3rd game that Lin Dan was in full flow, overpowering and thumping Simon Santoso in the manner of a quintessential maestro.
Lin Dan also made a mockery of Justin and Kwun. That guy really knows how to tease his opponent and his audience. Quite right when Gillian Clark says the sport has missed him.
