PETALING JAYA: China’s weakest men singles player Chen Yu is set to be the stumbling block for Malaysian No.1 shuttler Lee Chong Wei's bid to reach the semi-finals in the upcoming back-to-back tournaments in Europe.
Based on the draw released for the Swiss Open yesterday, the third seed Chong Wei is expected to meet the Chinese in the fourth leg of the Super Series, which will be held in Basel from March 13-18.
The US$200,000 Swiss Open is the third back-to-back tournament slotted in Europe.
The first is the ongoing German Open and will be followed by the third leg of the Super Series – the All-England – next week.
Stumbling block: Lee Chong Wei is expected to face Chen Yu (above) in the All-England and the Swiss Open in March.
Chong Wei's first meet in Europe is the All-England in Birmingham and he is most likely to meet Chen Yu in the last eight.
A second meeting with Chen Yu at the Swiss Open is on the cards if Chong Wei clears Ronald Susilo of Singapore in the first round and knocks out a qualifier in the second round.
If he beats Chen Yu, he is set to meet top seed Lin Dan of China.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's Mohd Hafiz Hashim should have a smooth run to the Swiss Open quarter-finals, where he is expected to take on second seed Chen Jin of China.
In the absence of Indonesia’s two top men doubles pair Alven Yulianto-Luluk Hariyanto and Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan following a ban on Alven, Luluk and Markis (see accompanying story below), the fight for the title will be among the top pairs from Malaysia, Denmark, South Korea and China in the Swiss Open.
Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong have been seeded seven and they will likely play top seed and world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China in the last eight.
Two Malaysian pairs - Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock are expected to face each other in the second round.
Top women singles shuttler Wong Mew Choo is not expected to go beyond the first round given the tough opposition in Switzerland. She is down to play second seed Wang Chen of China in the first round.
Based on the draw released for the Swiss Open yesterday, the third seed Chong Wei is expected to meet the Chinese in the fourth leg of the Super Series, which will be held in Basel from March 13-18.
The US$200,000 Swiss Open is the third back-to-back tournament slotted in Europe.
The first is the ongoing German Open and will be followed by the third leg of the Super Series – the All-England – next week.

Chong Wei's first meet in Europe is the All-England in Birmingham and he is most likely to meet Chen Yu in the last eight.
A second meeting with Chen Yu at the Swiss Open is on the cards if Chong Wei clears Ronald Susilo of Singapore in the first round and knocks out a qualifier in the second round.
If he beats Chen Yu, he is set to meet top seed Lin Dan of China.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's Mohd Hafiz Hashim should have a smooth run to the Swiss Open quarter-finals, where he is expected to take on second seed Chen Jin of China.
In the absence of Indonesia’s two top men doubles pair Alven Yulianto-Luluk Hariyanto and Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan following a ban on Alven, Luluk and Markis (see accompanying story below), the fight for the title will be among the top pairs from Malaysia, Denmark, South Korea and China in the Swiss Open.
Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong have been seeded seven and they will likely play top seed and world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China in the last eight.
Two Malaysian pairs - Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock are expected to face each other in the second round.
Top women singles shuttler Wong Mew Choo is not expected to go beyond the first round given the tough opposition in Switzerland. She is down to play second seed Wang Chen of China in the first round.