My next guess is some might ask how is LCW not playing to his max potential and form at this Korean SS. Well in terms of technique and footwork no problem but in terms of fitness, strategy, tactics and strokes, I don't think he is really pushing himself that hard considering Mas Premier SS is next week and with 2 upcoming majors. To be honest I think Msia should ask him to skip the Thomas Cup. Really no point in playing as realistically speaking, Msia should expose the second stringers and backup shuttlers now. Japan has Tago for next OG, China has CL, Denmark has JOJ and VA, Indonesia has Tommy. Sigh Msia has got to implement better planning and selection of players for the right tournaments.
Humbly,I have a different view as to LCW supposedly not playing to his max at the KOR Open SS.
First off, LCW hates to lose , esp not to CHN players, his main rival at that, and,surely, definitely not for the 4th time in a row - can be intolerable for the world number 1.
Second, I'm sure LCW, like everybody else, will want to have a rousing start to the new year - makes him feel good,lucky and confident.
Third, by losing to Chen Long yet again, he is enhancing his archrival's psychological edge over him and,conversely, aggravating his own psychological disadvantage; worse still, LCW is now more likely made to feel or believe that Chen Long is another nemesis, eroding his self-belief, as if one Lin Dan is not enough to cripple him mentally. On the contrary, I strongly feel that LCW must do his utmost to beat Chen Long and do it more often to put him in his place or else face dire consequences of his own making (I exaggerate a little here, for the sake of effect).
Fourth, the MAS Open PSS next week isn't that much more important than this year-opening SS event that he can afford to lose one in order to increase his chances of winning the other. Besides, the MAS Open PSS is not a major title - let's not forget, he originally even wanted to skip the SSF held in his home country.
Fifth, having won the SSF last month rather easily (not really troubled by JOJ and in the absence of Chen Long), LCW came to the KOR Open SS fresh and confident after a few weeks' rest. Furthermore,look at how he demolished CL's fellow teammate, Du Pengyu, in the QF by the emphatic score of 21-9,21-12 as well as defeating the rest, Son WH, Marc Z and K Tago, all highly respectable opponents,each of them in two sets convincingly. There is no question about LCW's form and fitness as well as his desire to win and nothing means more than beating Chen Long here.
In conclusion, LCW at the tail end of his career is now at a crossroads where he has to make an important decision as both age and time are not on his side. Either he goes on as before,trying to win as many titles and prize money and leaving to fate whether he wins a major or not until it's time to hang up his racquet for good. Or, make the necessary adjustments such as playing tournaments selectively, treating prize winnings as secondary and, most importantly, focus on peaking at the right time and preparing his utter best towards winning at least or just one major before calling it a day; in other words, go out with a bang, not a whimper.
If I may add one final point - it's too late for LCW to do anything to stop Chen Long, let alone Lin Dan. LCW can only hope to win the odd match against CL and to be lucky enough to do it at a time and place that matters more to him. Chen Long has improved so much now and that coupled with his talent, physicality,athleticism, agility and increased confidence as well as inner belief - I think it matters little from now on whether LCW avoids playing Chen Long too often in the hope that some degree of unfamiliarity may produce a certain element of surprise; I'm afraid it's not going to work in that regard.
What's more, with or without LCW, Chen Long himself also has to deal with another more formidable and fearsome archrival in his compatriot, Lin Dan - that is already a bigger and real headache for him but, hopefully, one that will keep him on his toes, constantly improving himself, and serve as a motivation and positive driving force to strive on with diligence constantly towards accomplishing what he deserves and scale greater heights. My 2cents.
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