Another long day for Team INA as usual in the first day of the main draw. 10:20am XD R32 Alexander Nikolaenko/Nina Vislova vs Flandy Limpele/Vita Marissa [3] -- I hope the engines are started for Flandy/Vita, after they misfired last week. A pretty tricky task against the improving Russian pair, but, the INA pair should progress! 11:00am XD R32 Richard Eindstedt/Joanne Nicholas vs Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir [2] -- the ENG pair surprisingly beat the Korean pair which I thought will be the opponent today. Nova/Butet should also be careful. 11:40am MS R32 Sony Dwi Kuncoro [6] vs Sairul Amar Ayob -- Mr Quarter-Final should have no problem to fulfill his seeding. 11:40am WS R32 Zhou Mi vs Maria Kristin Yulianti -- bye2 Maria. 2:20pm WS R32 Adriyanti Firdasari vs Zhu Lin [4] -- ditto for Firda. 3:00pm WD R32 Jiang Yanmei/Li Yujia vs Rani Mundiasti/Endang Nursugianti -- ditto for Rani/Endang. 5:00pm MD R32 Lee Jae Jin/Hwang Ji Man vs Tony Gunawan/Candra Wijaya [5] -- an early exit is looming for Tony/Candra as well, as they will have another encounter with Lee/Hwang, the All-England runner-up. 6:20pm MS R32 Taufik Hidayat [7] vs Kendrick Lee Yen Hui -- Taufik might use this match to stretch his muscles yet again...3 sets perhaps? 6:20pm WD R32 Haw Chiou Hwee/Lim Pek Siah vs Jo Novita/Greysia Polii -- Jo/Grace should win this one here! 7:40pm MD R32 Hendra A. Gunawan/Joko Riyadi vs Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan [2] -- another early exit for the unlucky AG/Joko, unless, Kido/Hendra misfire again. 8:20pm WD R32 Vita Marissa/Lilyana Natsir vs Jwalla Guta/Shruti Kurian -- a tricky match against the experienced Indian pair, but, Vita/Butet should progress. 9:40pm MD R32 Albertus Susanto Njoto/Yohan Wiratama Hadikusumo vs Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto [8] -- Luluk/Alvent should be careful as the Hong Kong pair just beat Fu/Cai last week. However, it will be a disaster if the INA pair is to lose this one here!
Interesting matchups and potential banana-skins for seeded players/pairs: Matches involving team-mates: Chen Hung-Ling/Chou Chia-Chi vs Hsieh Yu-Hsin/Chien Yu-Chin Xie Zhongbo/Zhang Yawen [4] vs Xu Chen/Zhao Tingting Wong Choong Hann vs Lee Tsuen Tseng Shuichi Sakamoto/Shintaro Ikeda vs Tadashi Ohtsuka/Keita Masuda Hendra A. Gunawan/Joko Riyadi vs Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan [2] Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah [4] vs Gan Teik Chai/Lin Woon Fui Matches with potentials of upsets: He Hanbin/Yu Yang [5] vs Robert Mateusiak/Nadiezda Kostiuzyk -- the Chinese pair lost to this pair in the Russian Open Final and also lost to another Danish pair in the Korean Open R32. Chance: 50-60% Kanako Yonekura vs Zhang Ning [2] -- Chance: 30% Lee Jae Jin/Hwang Ji Man vs Tony Gunawan/Candra Wijaya [5] -- very likely this one will be an upset, unless Tony/Candra change their tactic. Chance: 60-70% Park Sung Hwan vs Lee Chong Wei [2] -- Lee should prevail under normal situation, but, Park might spring a surprise. Chance: 30% Albertus Susanto Njoto/Yohan Wiratama Hadikusumo vs Luluk Hadiyanto/Alvent Yulianto [8] -- before last week, chance of an upset is smaller. But, it becomes larger after the HKG pair beat Fu/Cai. Chance: 40-50%
It's the trend...can't help it. That's why the top players are "restricted" to only 4 tourneys: AE, Swiss, Denmark and French. It used to be only AE and Swiss Opens though...since the first team hardly participate in Denmark Open before last eyar.
This year SUI Open is the last SS tournament which offers high ranking point before the Olympic qualifying deadline will be ended on April 30. Critical situation for INA WD pair Rani/Endang where their position stuck at #17 based on latest WR (06 March/08). Their next opportunity to upgrade ranking points are two GP Gold tourneys, India and ABC. INA weakest link, WS -- seems only Maria Kristin has chance to participate in Beijing. Firda and Maria have bad drawing here and hard to see they will win today's first round match.
Wednesday's best matches to follow live : Wong Choong Hann (MAS) Vs Lee Tsuen Seng (MAS) Yip Pui Yin (HKG) Vs Jun Jae Youn (KOR) Lee/Hwang (KOR) Vs Gunawan/Wijaya (INA/USA) Lee Chong Wei (MAS) Vs Park Sung Hwan (KOR)
I lost count of the no of satays u lost last week A top-form LCW will take this in 2, but, if he's bothered by injuries, maybe 3.
Nobody took me on last week which is a shame. The only one who took me on was Indra who lost (he betted TH vs LCW, poor guy).
Wow, the JPN giant killers in AE are facing off in the 1st round. Markis-Hendra are awaiting in QF but the JPN pair has to get past HJM/LJJ or CW/TG in the 2nd round first.
I'm just hoping the live online broadcast works today. Didn't spot a link on the website yesterday. My matches of the day in each discipline: MS - TH v Kendrick and LHI v Nguyen TM. Wouldn't be surprised if both Kendrick and Nguyen trotted out as winners but chances are slim. TH should be ready and is relatively fresh while Kendrick has hit a hiccup in form lately. LHI will want to put his AE disappointment behind him but as we have seen Nguyen fights to the death. WS - Yippy v my girl Jun. I don't think Yippy has been as consistent lately but even worse, Jun is probably worn out from the last 2 tournaments. If Jun gets off on the right foot, she could win. Otherwise, an easy Yippy win (a la Xu at the AE). If both are below par, expect a long drawn out 3 gamer. MD - Masuda/Ohtsuka v Ikeda/Sakamoto and Tony/Candra v LJJ/HJM. We have 2 smoking hot pairs squaring off and they're both Japanese. Should be interesting to see the styles they employ against each other. I think Ikeda/Sakamoto to win. Tony/Candra will have their hands full against the fast Koreans. If they don't adjust early, it'll be curtains soon after. WD - nothing particularly interesting but WPT/CEH v YW/ZJW might draw some interest. The MAS pair will see if they can go one better than last week after losing in 3 games against the #1 CHN pair. Can't see this #2 CHN pair losing. XD - He/Yu v Mateusiak/Kostiuczyk. Don't underestimate the Poles. They'll run most pairs close and if He/Yu take things too lightly, they could well be upset.
Nice predictions from everyone! This is the time for Rani/Endang to higher their quality by beating the SIN
indra will always bet on TH against anyone! can't say i blam ehim though, but TH is on quite a losing streak against LCW.
yeah, maybe today its the 1st round, they will put livestreaming on their website... lets juz hope it will happen
iTS UNusually quiet today....it Swiss Open....wonder where are those Mas baddy supporters.........?.........maybe they are still busy discussing mas politic...situation......also very exciting....
