Tai Tzu Ying broke a sequence of five straight losses to Akane Yamaguchi, beating the world No.1 for the first time in four years to make the Badminton Asia Championships 2023 final.
Tai’s last win over Yamaguchi was at the Singapore Open in April 2019, after which she has won only one game in five matches. In Dubai yesterday, the world No.4 started strong and rode a second game comeback by the Japanese, holding a lead all through the third to book her place in the final, 21-12 16-21 21-15 in 53 minutes.
Up next is No.2 An Se Young, who is looking for back-to-back successes after winning the All England in March. An beat Chen Yu Fei in the other semifinal, improving her record against the Chinese to 4-8. Tai hasn’t beaten An in their last three matches, but had four match points in their All England semifinal.
In men’s singles, 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew made his first final in over a year with a straight-games win over Lu Guang Zu in 42 minutes, 21-19 21-15. He will take on Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, who was just as comfortable against Kanta Tsuneyama, 21-13 21-16.
Indians, Malaysians Through
Wang Chi-Lin had to retire after suffering an injury.
Olympic champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin couldn’t complete their semifinal against Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty with Wang suffering an injury. The Indians were leading 21-18 13-14 when the Chinese Taipei pair retired. Rankireddy/Shetty will face Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi, after the Malaysians held off Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi in a close second game, 21-16 26-24. They will be looking for their first title since the Thailand Masters in January 2020.
Other Highlights
- Zheng Si Wei/Huang Ya Qiong expectedly breezed into the final, where they face younger compatriots Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin.
- The women’s doubles final will see Yuki Fukushima/Sayaka Hirota against Baek Ha Na/Lee So Hee.
→ Results (Semifinals)
→ Order of play (Finals)
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