Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto berhasil menebus empat besar Korea Open 2019. Ini dipastikan setelah keduanya memenangkan “perang saudara” dengan Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, Jumat (27/9). Fajar/Rian menang dua game langsung dengan skor 22-20, 21-17.
Dua ganda putra ini sebelumnya sudah enam kali berhadapan. Dari situ, Fajar/Rian baru sekali memperoleh kemenangan. Di dua pertemuan terakhir pada Singapore Open 2019 dan China Open 2019, Fajar/Rian juga alami kekalahan.
“Alhamdulillah kami bersyukur bisa menang, setelah kemarin dua kali berturut-turut kalah dari mereka. Apalagi minggu kemaren kami kalah di China Open. Meskipun begitu tadi di lapangan kami nggak mau fokus mikir menang kalah. Kami hanya belajar dari kekalahan sebelumnya di China Open, karena kalah start. Jadi tadi dari poin 0-0 kami langsung nggak mau kalah start lagi. Dari situ kami lebih percaya diri. Mereka hari ini mainnya tetap bagus, cuma kami lebih siap aja di lapangan. Kami kan sudah sama-sama tahu, jadi tinggal siapa yang siap saja,” jelas Fajar.
Di sisi lain Kevin/Marcus juga mengakui permainan Fajar/Rian yang lebih baik kali ini. “Hari ini mereka lebih siap dan bermain lebih baik. Sementara kaminya kurang baik,” kata Kevin.
Selanjutnya di semifinal, Fajar/Rian akan berhadapan dengan Li Jun Hui/Liu Yu Chen (Tiongkok). Terakhir di Japan Open 2018, Fajar/Rian kalah 20-22, 21-18, 14-21.
“Besok kami lawan Tiongkok. Di sini bolanya agak berat jadi kami harus lebih mempersiapkan fisik, tenaga dan stamina juga harus dijaga. Jaga makan, jaga tidur,” kata Rian.
“Mereka kan besar-besar dan tinggi-tinggi. Power mereka luar biasa, jadi kami harus lebih mempersiapkan power, stamina dan lebih fokus lagi,” tambah Fajar.
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Fajar Alfian / Muhammad Rian Ardianto succeeded in redeeming the top four of the 2019 Korean Open. This was confirmed after both won the "civil war" with Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo / Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, Friday (9/27). Dawn / Rian won two straight games with a score of 22-20, 21-17.
These two men's doubles have faced each other six times before. From there, Dawn / Rian only once won. In the last two meetings at the 2019 Singapore Open and 2019 China Open, Dawn / Rian also suffered defeat.
"Alhamdulillah, we are grateful to be able to win, after yesterday we lost two times in a row. Especially last week we lost at the China Open. Even so earlier on the field we did not want to focus on thinking about winning and losing. We only learned from our previous defeat at the China Open, because we lost the start. So earlier from 0-0 we immediately didn't want to lose start again. From there we are more confident. They are still playing well today, only we are better prepared on the field. We both already know, so all that's left is to be ready, "Fajar explained.
On the other hand Kevin / Marcus also recognizes a better Dawn / Rian game this time. "Today they are better prepared and play better. While the room is not good, "said Kevin.
Next in the semifinals, Fajar / Rian will face Li Jun Hui / Liu Yu Chen (China). Finally at the 2018 Japan Open, Fajar / Rian lost 20-22, 21-18, 14-21.
"Tomorrow we fight China. Here the ball is rather heavy so we have to prepare more physically, energy and stamina must also be maintained. Keep eating, keep sleeping, "said Rian.
"They are big and tall. Their power is extraordinary, so we have to prepare more power, stamina and focus more, "added Fajar.
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