A resurgent Lee Chong Wei moved to within two wins of his first World Superseries title since returning to top-flight badminton, cruising into the semi-finals of the Yonex French Open 2015 tonight.
Looking at the Men’s Singles draw, the Malaysian legend must have breathed a huge sigh of relief seeing Sho Sasaki’s name opposite his in the quarter-finals, and he made no mistake enhancing his dominant record versus his rival.
The manner of his 36-minute rout of the Japanese veteran – 21-9 21-12 – further solidified the mounting view that Lee is emerging from his recent slump in form. The quickness of his movement and sharpness of his probing shots blended with the all-too-familiar skill and guile that have mesmerised fans for years. A packed Stade Pierre de Coubertin was no different as clued-in spectators cheered every point, knowing each was another step on the way back to glory for a personality so accustomed to the limelight.
Having endured some tough weeks on the MetLife BWF World Superseries – knocked out in qualifying in Korea and second-round exits in Japan and Denmark – the former world No. 1 resisted thinking too far ahead.
“I enjoyed this match. Sho played well in this tournament. He beat Kento yesterday (Thursday) and I know I have to raise my game,” said the 33-year-old.
“There’s a lot of pressure on me. I’ve had some bad results. This is my best since returning to the Superseries. It’s getting better and better and I have a chance. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
He faces China’s Wang Zhengming for a place in Sunday’s final while defending champion and No. 6 seed, Chou Tien Chen, rebounded in the third game versus Ng Ka Long to keep his repeat hopes on track. The Chinese Taipei player beat his Hong Kong opponent, 21-13 15-21 21-10. Jan Jorgensen stands in Chou’s way and a second straight finals berth. The No. 2 seed from Denmark defeated Tian Houwei, 21-18 21-19.
In Women’s Singles, a polished performance by Thai prodigy Ratchanok Intanon stopped India’s Saina Nehwal emphatically, 21-9 21-15, to set up a clash with China’s Wang 
Shixian. The latter held firm for a 21-17 27-25 triumph against Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara. The other semi-final pits world No. 1 Carolina Marin of Spain against a confident Tai Tzu Ying. The Chinese Taipei competitor thwarted Li Xuerui’s bid for back-to-back titles (22-20 21-14), following her Superseries Premier success in Denmark last weekend.
“I reached the semi-finals last year so I want to at least reach there this year to maintain my points. I am feeling stronger and my right calf is much better. I’m using compression socks now when I play so I’m not worried about getting injured,” said Intanon, forced to retire with cramps in two major tournaments this year.
“I feel confident and I’m working hard because I want to finish in the top four in the Superseries and go to Dubai.”
Meanwhile, the doubles events threw up some surprising results with Xu Chen/Ma Jin losing their Mixed Doubles tussle with Praveen Jordan/Debby Susanto. The experienced Chinese fell 21-8 19-21 23-21 to the young Indonesians who will challenge blossoming partnership from China, Lu Kai/Huang Yaqiong, in the semi-finals. Another Mixed duo, Chris and wife Gabrielle Adcock, were leading 21-18 12-21 10-3 when China’s Liu Cheng retired with back injury, giving the English a bitter-sweet triumph versus Cheng and partner, Bao Yixin. The Adcocks now play buoyant Korean pair, Ko Sung Hyun/Kim Ha Na, who are looking to add the French Open crown to their Denmark win.
“We are happy to win in front of this crowd again. The support we are getting is amazing. We were in the semis two years ago and in the final last year so maybe it will be third time lucky,” declared Gabby Adcock.
Men’s Doubles saw Korea’s Kims – Gi Jung and Sa Rang (featured photo) – pull off a stunner, reeling off the last three points to save match point and then beat top pair, Fu Haifeng/Zhang Nan, 21-15 21-23 20-22. In the all-Danish battle, Mads Conrad-Petersen and Mads Pieler Kolding ousted their senior countrymen and 2014 French Open champions, Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen, 21-16 17-21 21-13. One semi-final will feature an all-Korean shoot-out between world No. 1 pair, Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong, and the Kims while there is an equally exciting match-up with Denmark’s ‘Mads & Mads’ versus World champions, Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia who have efficiently manoeuvred their way into the weekend.
Jung Kyung Eun and Shin Seung Chan’s progression to the Women’s Doubles semi-finals maintains Korea’s aspirations of having the same pairs sweep the World Superseries doubles categories for two weeks in succession. The Denmark Open winners tackle Huang Yaqiong/Tang Jinhua of Cina in the semi-finals. Indonesia’s Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Greysia Polii followed up their amazing second-round comeback with a less dramatic 21-12 21-17 outcome against Chae Yoo Jung/Kim So Yeong to reach the semi-finals. They take on Luo twins – Ying and Yu – for a shot at the title.
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