This is it. It boils down to this, but somehow, all the excitement climaxed in the QFinals, drops a bit in the SFinals and wanes in the Final.
MS
Lin Dan v Chen Hong
Neither played their best in the SFinals, but Lin normally dictates the game. It is when he feels too comfortable that he starts to lose it a bit. He needs to keep it in focus all the time. His left knee is strapped and I think his mobility is a bit affected.
Prediction: Lin Dan
WS
Zhang Ning v Xie Xingfang
Zhang was stretched to three games by Hirose, while Xie beat Mia in straight games. The momentum seems to be with Xie at the moment.
Prediction: Xie Xingfang
MD
Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen v Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng
This is the match of the Finals. Paaske/Rasmussen played a good solid match against Luluk/Alven. I haven't seen Cai/Fu play for quite some time, but based on their recent results, they are on a roll. Just like Xie, they have the momentum.
Prediction: Cai/Fu
WD
Gao Ling/Huang Sui v Wei Yili/Zhao Tingting
It may seem that the final was played when Gao/Huang defeated Yang/Zhang. Wei/Zhao showed some good form when they soundly beat Du/Yu and then Saralee/Sathinee.
Prediction: Gao/Huang
XD
Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms v Thomas Laybourn/Kamilla Rytter Juhl
Both pairs played exciting matches in the SFinals and all indications show that the Final will be as pulsating. I think it will boil down to a slug between Emms and Juhl. Somehow, they don't do as well in the women's doubles but do very well in the mixed doubles, having no problems retrieving hard smashes.
Prediction: Laybourn/Juhl
I remember someone saying that the winners of the German Open will find it hard in the All-England. Well, with the exception of the XD event, they are all in the Final and the favourites to win as well.
MS
Lin Dan v Chen Hong
Neither played their best in the SFinals, but Lin normally dictates the game. It is when he feels too comfortable that he starts to lose it a bit. He needs to keep it in focus all the time. His left knee is strapped and I think his mobility is a bit affected.
Prediction: Lin Dan
WS
Zhang Ning v Xie Xingfang
Zhang was stretched to three games by Hirose, while Xie beat Mia in straight games. The momentum seems to be with Xie at the moment.
Prediction: Xie Xingfang
MD
Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen v Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng
This is the match of the Finals. Paaske/Rasmussen played a good solid match against Luluk/Alven. I haven't seen Cai/Fu play for quite some time, but based on their recent results, they are on a roll. Just like Xie, they have the momentum.
Prediction: Cai/Fu
WD
Gao Ling/Huang Sui v Wei Yili/Zhao Tingting
It may seem that the final was played when Gao/Huang defeated Yang/Zhang. Wei/Zhao showed some good form when they soundly beat Du/Yu and then Saralee/Sathinee.
Prediction: Gao/Huang
XD
Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms v Thomas Laybourn/Kamilla Rytter Juhl
Both pairs played exciting matches in the SFinals and all indications show that the Final will be as pulsating. I think it will boil down to a slug between Emms and Juhl. Somehow, they don't do as well in the women's doubles but do very well in the mixed doubles, having no problems retrieving hard smashes.
Prediction: Laybourn/Juhl
I remember someone saying that the winners of the German Open will find it hard in the All-England. Well, with the exception of the XD event, they are all in the Final and the favourites to win as well.