Yonex ALL ENGLAND Open 2020 : Round of 32 to FINAL (11-15 March)

SEMIFINAL (10.00am & 05.00pm) => https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/...A9F3CE-A822-49C8-A58A-BF165D73CB64&d=20200314

• Lee Zii Jia steals the limelight in this prestigious tournament, beat more fancied rival with highly reputation, the Olympic Champion Chen Long. Lee who's touted to be Lee Chong Wei successor exploiting his potential in Birmingham, extra motivation, few errors, powerful smash and balancing Chen patient style to control the rally became the key factor for his sensational victory in his All England debut. Next big obstacle for this young man none but the in-form Viktor Axelsen, the Dane showed excellent form yesterday to destroy Shi Yuqi who stated his opponent is too good in all aspects at post-match interview. The struggling Shi couldn't do too much to stem Axelsen lethal smash instead to produce many uncharacteristic errors and totally out of accuracy, it looks like these two players have different level of play. On upper half draw, predictable script to see top seed Chou Tien Chen and Anders Antonsen prevail, to ease past their compatriots, vast experienced Chou is favoured to book final berth based on their H-2-H stats. Badminton fans will witness the new champion emerges in this category.

• China hotshot Chen Yufei fought hard to tackle Ratchanok Intanon this time, the Thai ace has good chance against her nemesis in third game, 15-12 but a string of errors became fatal and let the persistent Chen to close the gap and back to winning track, grabs four consectutive points to seal last four place, 17-21. Chen will take on Nozomi Okuhara who reverses opening game defeat to outmaneuver Sindhu in next two games, the Indian couldn't maintain consistency after scoring blazing start in first game. Okuhara lost in last three matches to Chen, an interesting to wait whether the Japanese has better formula to overcome the Chinese here. Former champions Carolina Marin, Tai Tzu Ying will set up a mouth watering clash, both players books convincing win over Akane Yamaguchi and Pornpawee Chochuwong respectively.

• In doubles category, the big headline is mixed doubles. Jordan/Oktavianti created magical comeback, 10-18 to 21-19. Just three points away, Wang/Huang will seal their semifinal ticket but a nightmare happened, the world number two focus disappeared and made huge blunder that capitalised by their opponent. Second wind surged to the Indonesian pair in third game despite the Chinese still fought back but had lost winning momentum. Another similar turnaround also arrived for home favourites Ellis/Smith to turn the tables, keep going at the brink defeat, 17-20, saving three match points and forced rubber games against Tang CM/Tse YS. It's a gone case in third game, more confident English duo advance to semis.

Other highlights :
- The Daddies can't defend their crown and lost to third Japanese foes, Endo/Watanabe in two close games, 19-21 / 18-21. But the Minions still manage their ambition to snatch third title, edge past Aaron C/Soh WY, 21-17 / 21-19. The undisputed world number one have Lee Y/Wang CL to overcome.
- Defending champion Chen QC/Jia YF outlasted by the Olympic Champions Matsutomo/Takahashi, 12-21 / 22-20 / 12-21. One more Japan pair in semifinal, Fukushima/Hirota while Matsumoto/Nagahara couldn't pass China second-ranked combination Du Y/Li YH who will take on Lee SH/Shin SC.

 

Because they're too dominant in every BWF top-tier tournament, chance for others to capitalise this rare situation.

Indeed, they only secure two semifinal spots through women's category.
For the first time since 1999 edition, China MS player fails to enter All England semifinal.