While Viktor Axelsen got the better of Anthony Sinisuka Ginting yet again, Thom Gicquel/ Delphine Delrue went down fighting.
The Axiata Arena has witnessed a strong ever-changing drift so far, favouring the attacking players. However, the best in the world have been quick to adapt to the conditions and remain undeterred.
The Indonesian Anthony Sinisuka Ginting gave it his all on the court today, but still left empty-ended. Indeed, he was up against the current top player Viktor Axelsen. The Dane started on the allegedly worse side of the court and lost the opener. However, he showed the usual focus and tenacity to level it at 1-1. The Olympic champion easily pocketed the decider, as errors finally crept up in Ginting’s game. He lost 18-21, 21-17, 21-12 in a high-quality encounter.
Tai Tzu Ying is back
Following the losses in title matches at the Olympics and the World Championships, Tai Tzu Ying is proving that she still has more to offer. The one of the best-ever put on another fabulous display in front of her numerous Malaysian fans. She got the better of Pusarla V. Sindhu in style, showcasing her deceptions and mavericks in their full glory. Winning 13-21, 21-15, 21-13, the Indonesian Open champion is likely to face familiar hurdles.
She will contest the semifinals match against arch-rival Chen Yufei and then will perhaps run into Wang Zhiyi again. Given their current forms at the moment, Zhiyi is the clear favourite against Ratchanok Intanon. She overcame a stupendous resistance by in-form Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt.
Kjaersfeldt makes big strides
Having gotten the better of the great Carolina Marin for the first time in 11 encounters yesterday, the Dane made it difficult for the Asian champion today. She convincingly won the first game, but the Chinese youngster was the better of the two, when it came to controlling the drift. Zhiyi progressed to the semifinals with a 9-21, 21-10, 21-17 scoreline, as she makes further amends for the Uber Cup loss.
Christiansen/ Boje through, Gicquel/ Delrue out
Pumped on by their first round victory over the three-time All England champions Yuta Watanabe/ Arisa Higashino, the Danes Mathias Christiansen/ Alexandra Boje blitzed past Robin Tabeling/ Selena Piek. Winning 21-19, 21-12, they have set up a tantalizing meeting with the all-conquering Zheng Siwei/ Huang Yaqiong.
The Chinese, to their credit, won despite an inspired fight by the French youngsters Thom Gicquel/ Delphine Delrue. There was a bit of a disagreement when the umpire wrongly ruled the opener in the French’s favour. However, upon Siwei’s insistence, Gicquel was quick to accept his fault. Consequently, the two-time world champions ended up winning in two close games 25-23, 22-20.
The fans’ hopes remain alive
While the Malaysian star Lee Zii Jia lost due to nerves against Shesar Hiren Rhustavito yesterday, Aaron Chia/ Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Tze Fei/ Nur Izzuddin gave fans reason to cheer. They won their quarterfinals against Mohammad Ahsan/ Hendra Setiawan and Liu Yu Chen/ Ou Xuan Yi respectively.