WD - Quarter final - four countries, four tickets
Two tournaments, same opponents
CHEN/JIA’s rematch with BAEK/LEE from last week’s Denmark Open. The Koreans fired up right at the beginning of the revenge game. Keeping leading the first set cores , the Denmark Open runner-ups BAEK/LEE won the first game. The Chinese Olympic silver medalists fought very had in hopes of taking the match over but their journey had to stop finally with an off-net smash from CHEN. 23/21, the Koreans succeeded getting back at their opponents.
World number 3 Nami MATSUYAMA/Chiharu SHIDA out
They were surprisingly eliminated by the soon-to-be top 10 Indonesian pair Pearly TAN / THINAAH Muralitharan. The Japanese quickly won the first set with their high speed and flawless strategy. Nevertheless, the Malaysian ladies were so eager to win this match. Twice 21/14 for the Malaysians. Finally the head-to-head history between these players was rewritten.
When “KIMKONG” is at the Japanese Tower for rendez-vous
The world number two from Korea doubled their attacks today. KONG’s canon-like smashes followed by KING’s accurate shots, the Japanese were temporarily limited in their game. 21/12 for the Koreans in their first game. FUKUSHIMA/HIROTA gradually found their rhythm and played with more patience. 23/21, the Japanese showed great perseverance throughout their second game, already one hour and the game was still going on.. Final game, the Japanese stayed focused throughout the whole game and they won the game 21/19.