TAI Tzu Ying from another galaxy
TAI Tzu Ying took her time in the first game…
Top 10 clash on court number 1 between TAI Tzu Ying and WANG Zhi Yi. Two players in shape during this Olympic year. The Chinese has indeed earned the Super 500 Indonesia Masters in January. Later this same month, her today’s opponent from Chinese Tapei reached the final of the Super 1000 in Malaysia only beaten by the world number 1 AN Se Young (Korea). The following week, she found the energy to get back on court and win the trophy in the Super 750 India Open. Which champion is going to make it to the quarter finals?
The match begins and the French audience has already picked a side highlighted by the noise made for the former world number 1 from Chinese Taipei’s appearance on court. But their favorite starts with several mistakes leaving the lead to her challenger 7/11. Finding back her terrific drop shots, the 2023 Asian Champion comes back in the game. Leading 20/16, she takes the opening game on the fourth time of asking 21/19.
… and played amazingly on the second one
Back on the second game, the 2017 French Open winner starts even better as she finished. Using unbelievable fake shots, she clearly puts the Chinese far from the shuttle. 11/3 at the interval, she keeps up her good work until 17/5. A bit less focused at the end, she leaves 5 more points to her challenger but still takes the match 21/19 21/10. Tomorrow’s quarter final will be against Aya OHORI (n°13, Japan), winner of Gregoria Mariska TUNJUNG (n°7, Indonesia): 21/17 21/16.
TAI Tzu Ying: « It is the very first time for me playing in this arena. I had to adapt to the court and to the arena because it is quite windy. I committed several mistakes at the beginning, but once those corrections made, it was way better (…) The goal of this tournament is really to adapt myself to the arena, so that in few months I will be able to get a medal ».