Federer Express to the Third Round

Roger began his bid for a third Key Biscayne title Friday by beating Kevin Kim 6-3, 6-2.

Roger blew past the American qualifier in just over an hour on the hardcourts at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. Our champ titled back-to-back at the tournament in 2005 and 2006 and was the runner-up in 2002. He started with a fair number of errors today but nevertheless clearly brought home the first set. The fine-tuning then seemed to have been done and Roger broke his opponent’s serve twice in the second, going on to score an undisputed victory.

Roger’s third-round opponent will be German Nicolas Kiefer. The two have played each other 14 times with Roger winning 11 of the matches.

rogerfederer

Choong/Lee and Chan/Chew Progressed

Top seed Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah advanced to the second round of Yonex Sunrise India Open after beating local men's doubles pair Vinayak and Vinay Kumar Reddy in rubber sets, 21-10, 21-23, and 21-7.

Meanwhile, Indonesian pair Candra Wijaya and Joko Riyadi succeeded to win in the first round. They vanquished Yohan Wiratama/Wong Wai Hong of Hong Kong 12-21, 21-15, 2-15.

In the bottom half, Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng defeated another Hong Kong pair, Albertus Njoto/Hui Wai Ho 21-18, 17-21, and 21-19 in 45 minutes.

Men's Doubles Second Round Selected Fixtures:

1-Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah vs. Danny Bawa Chrisnanta/Chayut Triyachart
2-Chan Chong Ming/Chew Choon Eng vs. Hendri Kurniawan Saputra/Hendra Wijaya
5-Candra Wijaya/Joko Riyadi vs. Sai Praneeth/Pranav Chopra
6-Hoon Thien How/Lin Woon Fui vs. Goh Wei Shem/Ong Jian Guo
7-Ong Soon Hock/Khoo Chung Chiat vs. Akshay Diwalkar/Jishnu Sanyal

Arshavin: I'm a Gunner for life

Arshavin holds his soccer boots during his presentation on March 23, 2009 - reuters.com

Mercurial Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin has hinted Arsenal could be the last club he plays for in his career.

The 27-year-old Russian playmaker has settled in quickly following his deadline day transfer from Zenit St Petersburg and his arrival has coincided with a upturn in fortunes for the Gunners, who look set to finish the season in the top four.

Arshavin's header - arsenal.com

Arshavin, who is currently on international duty preparing for the World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan, scored his first goal for Arsenal in the 4-0 win over Blackburn on March 14.

"The players are friendly and I feel comfortable with the team in general," Arshavin told a press conference in Russia.

"I am pleased to have a long-term contract and I could well finish my career here."

espnstar

Zvonareva Clinches BNP Paribas Title

Indian Wells (3/22) - Vera Zvonareva sunk the defending champion Ana Ivanovic's hope of winning a title since November 2008. The Russian fourth seed grabbed her second singles title of this year with a 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory.

Windy conditions made it difficult, but Zvonareva maintained her record of not dropping a set all tournament to clinch the biggest title of her career so far.

It is also her second trophy in as many days - after picking up the doubles title yesterday with Victoria Azarenka whom she beat in the singles semi-final.

Ivanovic made 44 unforced errors in the match, compared to Zvonareva's 16, leading to a championship point.

The Serbian saved it with a good smash, but the twenty-four-year-old Zvonareva won the final on her second championship point when her opponent sent a return long.

espnstar.com

The Only Away Win: Newcastle 1-3 Arsenal

Robin van Persie challenges Kevin Nolan

Four goals are created in within a 10-minute period at St. James' Park as Arsenal became the only team that grabbed an away win in Saturday as well as Sunday matches.

The home team had wasted a splendid chance to lead at the 23rd minute because Obafemi Martins' penalty kick was saved by Manuel Almunia.


Nicklas Bendtner and Fabricio Coloccini

It was the Gunners' turn to lead when forward Nicklas Bendtner made it 0-1 for his team with a 57-minute header. Seconds later, however, Martins equalized the score to give hope for his side.

A stunning action was displayed by Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri when they presented two more goals in just three minutes.

The Gunners maintain the gap to Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool while Newcastle is dumped near the relegation zone.

Pictures by reuters.com

UEFA Champions League Quarter-final Draw

Villarreal vs. Arsenal
Manchester United vs. FC Porto
Liverpool vs. Chelsea
Barcelona vs. Bayern Munchen

Roddick Defeat Djokovic

Roddick serves in the semi-final

Indian Wells - American Andy Roddick progressed to the semi-final with victory over third-seed Novak Djokovic. Roddick was in fine form as he comfortable despatched of Djokovic 6-3 6-3.

The big-serving American has been a man reborn this year, winning the title in Memphis and beating Djokovic on his way to the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

The world number three retired on that occasion suffering from the effects of the Melbourne heat but all the heat was coming from Roddick's racquet today.

The seventh seed broke in Djokovic's opening service game then again to secure the first set.
Djokovic had a chance at the start of the second set but Roddick kept his cool and it was the below-par Serbian who cracked first, Roddick rattling off four games in a row to seal victory.

Roddick will face Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the semi-final. Roger Federer will meet Andy Murray in the other semi-final.


Roddick hits a return to Djokovic

In the women's singles, fourth seed Vera Zvonareva subdued rising star Victoria 6-3, 6-3. Zvonareva reached the final in 1 hour, 20 minutes with the help of three service breaks, compared to zero breaks for the eighth-seeded Azarenka, who stunned top-seeded Russian Dinara Safina here on Wednesday.

The head-to-head of Zvonareva and Azarenka is now 4-0. The 24-year-old Zvonareva will appear in her 20th career final, seeking a ninth title.


Ivanovic and Pavlyuchenkova walk off the court

The other women's singles semi-final was a match between fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic and Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The Serbian crushed Pavlyuchenkova, who was appearing in her first WTA Tour semi-final, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Ivanovic holds a 4-3 edge in the all-time series against Zvonareva.

all pictures by reuters
espnstar
sportsnetwork

Fab: I've got nothing to hide

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas says will go in front of the FA after he was accused of spitting at Hull's assistant manager.The Tigers claim Fabregas spat at assistant manager Horton after their FA Cup clash at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

The midfielder was quick to deny the claims but Hull have pushed for the FA to investigate and the authorities at Soho Square have written to the club to gain their version of events.

But the Spaniard is more than happy for the FA to look into the matter.

"I will leave it in the FA's hands for the time being - I will wait to see what they say," he told The Sun.

"I've absolutely nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of.

"The simple fact is I did not spit at the assistant manager of Hull City."

Fabregas also denied claims of spitting at Michael Ballack when during Arsenal's clash against Bayern Munich during a Champions League match in 2005.

"I remember the incident clearly. It was four years ago and I leant over and shouted at him," he added.

"I did not spit at him."

espnstar.com

Federer Reaches Indian Wells Semi-final

Roger waves to the spectators in BNP Paribas Open

Indian Wells - Three times Indian Wells winner Roger Federer rolled to the semi-final with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Spanish Fernando Verdasco. The former world number one led 4-1 in the second set, but ten seed Verdasco forced to play a tie-breaker.

Federer will oppose fourth-seeded Andy Murray of Great Britain who conquered Ivan Ljubicic 7-5, 7-6 (6).


Federer's backhand

Meanwhile, 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick will fight against third seed Novak Djokovic to gain a place in the top-half semi-final. Seven seed Roddick vanquised eleven seed David Ferrer 7-6 (5), 3-6, and 6-3 while Djokovic defeated Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (7), 7-6 (6).

In the women's singles, Dinara Safina's opportunity to be world number one was shattered when she lost to Belarussian Victoria Azarenka in rubber sets, 7-6 (4), 3-6, and 1-6 in the quarter-final. Safina would replace Serena William on the top spot if she reached the final.


Zvonareva after winning match point against Wozniacki

Vera Zvonareva will be eight seed Azarenka's next challenge. The fourth seed Russian easily eliminated Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-4, 6-2.

The Indian Wells surprise Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova upset Poland's Agniezska Radwanska 7-6 (8), 6-4 to meet defending champion Ana Ivanovic. The fifth-seeded Serbian moved to the semi-final by Sybille Bammer's withdraw.


Pavlyuchenkova returns Radwanska's ball

Pictures by Reuters.com

Federer Passes Karlovic, Roddick Cruises

Roger hits the ball - Reuters

Roger felled big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 6-3 in just 70 minutes to reach the fourth round in Indian Wells.

“It’s always a bit of a success story to get his serve back,” Roger said. “It seems like he is serving from the service line. Ivo has really improved a lot over the past few years so it’s always nice to get through a tough match like this.”

Federer was able to withstand 13 aces by the Croatian, breaking him in the seventh game of the second set to avoid another tiebreaker while never facing a break point himself.

"That's always a good thing," he said of holding serve with ease. "That kind of keeps you a bit relaxed."

Despite his dominant record over Karlovic, Roger said he was always glad to come away with a win against him.

Roger next faces Chile's Fernando Gonzalez (head-to-head: 11:1), who dispatched American James Blake 7-5, 6-1.

rogerfederer.com


Andy Roddick waves after defeating German Nicolas Kiefer - Reuters

American Andy Roddick beat Nicolas Kiefer in the third round. His next opponent is David Ferrer of Spain.

Arsenal to the Semi-final by Late Goals

Robin van Persie shot the ball

Arsenal advanced to FA Cup semi-final after beating Hull City 2-1. Hull led 1-0 as Nick Barmby scored at the 13th minute. The equalizer didn't arrive until the 75th, after a pass by Nicklas Bendtner in front of goal was deflected into the path of Andrei Arshavin who set up Robin van Persie for an easy tap-in. Then Gallas, who was stripped of the captaincy earlier in the season for criticizing his teammates, scored the winner, at the 84th minute.


William Gallas celebrates his goal

Arsenal will challenge Chelsea who had previously clinched a spot in the semi-final.


Theo Walcott's action in FA Cup Quarter-final

www.reuters.com
thestar

2009 Wilson Swiss Open Final Results

2-Lee Yong-dae/Lee Hyo-jung (KOR) lost to Zheng Bo/Ma Jin (CHN) 16-21, 15-21 (37 minutes)

Jiang Yanjiao (CHN) lost to Wang Yihan (CHN) 17-21, 21-17, 13-21 (59 minutes)

2-Lin Dan (CHN) lost to 1-Lee Chong Wei (OxO) 16-21, 16-21 (52 minutes)

3-Lee Hyo-jung/Lee Kyung-won (KOR) lost to 4-Yu Yang/Du Jing (CHN) 11-21, 12-21 (42 minutes)

2-Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong (MAS) def. 3-Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen (DEN) 21-14, 21-18 (39 minutes)

Roger to the Second Round

Roger hits a ball to crowd in Indian Wells first round - Reuters

Indian Wells, California - Absence in Dubai and the Davis Cup did not make Roger Federer lose his greatness of playing. Receiving a bye in the first round, the second-seeded Swiss overpowered France's Marc Gicquel 7-6(4), 6-4.


However, the 2004-2006 champion admitted that he has not yet shown his best performance.


"I am happy," he said. "I was a bit rusty maybe, coming back from not having played. But it was OK. I'm happy I've won. That's always most important."


Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, who beat Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4, 6-2, will be Federer's next opponent.

Lee Yong-dae Failed To Gain 2009 Swiss Open Title

South Korean Lee Yong-dae suffered double defeat in Wilson Swiss Open. First, he lost in the men's doules semi-final from Danish Carsten Mogensen/Mathias Boe 19-21, 21-19, and 21-14. Boe/Mogensen booked the final clash second-seeded Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong who conquer Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng, who had won All England last week, with a 23-21, 18-21, and 21-14 win.

Twenty-year-old Lee Yong-dae and his partner Shin Baek-cheol are not successful as Lee partnered with Jung Jae-sung last year. Lee and Jung are the defending champion. They are also the winner of 2008 All England champion.

After changing his partner to Shin Baek-cheol, Lee Yong-dae never won men's doubles super series title this month. Lee Yong-dae/Shin Baek-cheol only won German Open Grand Prix Gold.

The defeat in the mixed doubles final added disappointment to Lee Yong-dae. He and Lee Hyo-jung were defeated by unseeded Chinese Zheng Bo/Ma Jin in straight sets, 16-21, 15-21 in 37 minutes.

The 2008 Olympic gold medalists never led the first game that Zheng Bo and Ma Jin won easily 21-16. The second was tougher, yet still the Korean was not able to pass Zheng Bo/Ma Jin's points. They only could evened 9 all. Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung ultimately lost 16-21.

Lin Dan Lost

Lin Dan poses with Lee Chong Wei in 2009 Wilson Swiss Open - thestar

Basel-Lin Dan's hope to win his second title opf the year was diminshed after losing to Malaysian Lee Chong Wei straight sets, 21-16 and 21-16 in 52 minutes.

In the first set, the four times All England champion and 2008 Olympic gold medalist, Lin Dan led 13-9, but Lee Chong Wei chased to be 14-3 for Lin. Lin Dan's point was stuck in 16 while Lee Chong Wei improved and won the first set 21-16.

The same thing happened in the second set. Lin Dan first led the game 5-2, yet Lee Chong Wei equalized to be 5-5 and left Lin Dan behind 9-5. Lin Dan could not passed Lee Chong Wei's points that he was beaten 16-21.

Arsenal 4-0 Blackburn

Arshavin celebrates his second goal

Andrei Arshavin proved that he has the quality of great player when he scored twice as Arsenal downed Blackburn 4-0 in Emirates Stadium. The first goal of Arsenal and Arshavin was created in the second minute. Arshavin subdued Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson to score his second goal in the 65h minute.

Emmanuel Eboue completed the win when he struck late twice in the 88th minute and one minute into extra time.

Second Final in Only Two Weeks!

After being absent in the first tournaments of the year, Lin Dan reaches his second final in only two weeks. He overthrew third-seeded compatriot Chen Jin with an easy 21-13, 21-14 win in 44 minutes.

Defending champion Lin Dan created 12 smash winners to Chen Jin's only 5 smash winners. The former world number one also created 7 net winners and won 42 rallies compared to the 2008 All England champion Chen's 4 net winners and 27 won rallies.

After left 3-4 in the first game, Lin Dan could not be eclipsed and continued to lead in the points. Chen Jin managed to equalize the score 8-8 and 9-9 but failed to grab more than 13 points. Lin Dan closed the first game 21-13.

Lin Dan was even more dominant in the second game. He quickly led 8-3 and could not be chased by Chen Jin. Lin destroyed Chen 21-14.

Lee Yong-dae's Journey

Basel - Lee Yong-dae advances to the mixed doubles final with his partner Lee Hyo-jung. This South Korean second seed eliminated China's Xu Chen and Zhao Yunlei 21-18, 21-17 in 42 minutes.

The Olympic gold medalists have outshone Malaysia's Fairuzizuan Tazari and Wong Pei Tty in a comfortable two-setter 21-18, 21-8 in the Friday quarter-final.

In the final, they will face other Chinese pair, Zheng Bo and Ma Jin, who prevailed over Thailand's seventh seed Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam in straight sets, 21-14, 21-19.

Lee Yong-dae also still have the opportunity to win the men's doubles title after he and Shin Baek-cheol upset Japanese qualifiers Kenichi Hayakawa/Kenta Kazuno 23-21, 21-15 in the quarter-final.

Today the fifth-seeded Lee Yong-dae/Shin Baek-cheol compete against Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen of Denmark for a final spot. The other semi-finalists are second seed Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong confronting 2009 All England champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng.

Lin Dan vs. Chen Jin Again

Basel-Chinese best men's singles player Lin Dan will face Chen Jin again in Swiss Open semi-final. It is the same with 2009 All England semi-final. Lin Dan progressed to the semi-final after vanquishing Hsieh Yu-Hsin 21-16, 21-14. Meanwhile, third-seeded Chen Jin downed English Andrew Smith in an easy 21-10, 21-5 win.

The other semi-final contenders are Lee Chong Wei versus Jan O Jorgensen. Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia defeated Indonesian Taufik Hidayat in rubber sets, 21-23, 21-12, and 21-19, while Jorgensen subdued another Malaysian, Sairul Ayob, 21-18 and 21-16.

Swiss Open Quarter-final Round Fixtures

Mixed Doubles
2-Lee Yong-dae/Lee Hypjung (KOR) vs. Tazari/Wong Pei Tty (MAS)
1-Nova Widhianto/Lilyana Natsir (INA) vs. Zhang Bo/Ma Jin (CHN)
3-He Hanbin/Yu Yang (CHN) vs. Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thungthongkam (THA)
8-Xie Zhongbo/Zhang Yawen (CHn) vs. Xu Chen/Zhao Yunlei (CHN)

Men's Singles
2-Lin Dan (CHN) vs. Hsieh Yu-Hsin (TPE)
3-Chen Jin (CHN) vs. Andrew Smith (ENG)
Jan O'Jorgensen (DEN) vs. Sairul Ayob (MAS)
1-Lee Chong Wei (MAS) vs. 7-Taufik Hidayat (INA)

Men's Doubles
5-Lee Yong-dae/Shin Baek-cheol (KOR) vs. Kenichi Hayakawa/Kenta Kazuno (JPN)
3-Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen (DEN) vs. 8-Anthony Clark/Nathan Robertson (ENG)
6-Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng (CHN) vs. Chris Adcock/Robert Blair (ENG)
7-Mathias Logosz/Robert Mateusiak (POL) vs. 2-Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong (MAS)

Women's Singles
2-Zhou Mi (HKG) vs. Wang Yihan (CHN)
3-Lu Lan (CHN) vs. Saina Nehwal
Juliane Schenk (GER) vs. 4-Pi Hongyan
Salakjit Ponsana (THA) vs. Jiang Yanjiao (CHN)

Women's Doubles
3-Lee Hyo-jung/Lee Kyung-won (KOR) vs. Shendy Irawati/Meiliana Jauhari (INA)
5-Ha Jung-eun/Kim Min-jung (KOR) vs. 2-Wong Pei Tty/Chin Eei Hui (MAS)
7-Zhao Tingting/Zhang Yawen (CHN) vs. 4-Yu Yang/Du Jing (CHN)
6-Lena Frier Kristiansen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (DEN) vs. 1-Chien Yu-Chin/Cheng Wen-Hsing (TPE)

China Swept All Titles

Chinese Lin Dan lifts his All England trophy - The Star


China was successful in All England. In the men's singles, Lin Dan gained his fourth All England title after conquering Malaysian Lee Chong Wei 21-19 and 21-12. Even Lee Chong Wei's coach, Misbun Sidek, was not confident that Lee Chong Wei has the ability to win. Lin Dan celebrated his win by slapping his former teammate Xia Xuanze's hand.

In the women's doubles, Zhao Tingting and Zhang Yawen defeated their juniors Cheng Shu/Zhao Yunlei 21-13, 21-15.

The men's doubles title was achieved by 2005 All England champions Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng who beat All England last year finalist Korean Hwang Ji-man and his new partner, Han Sang-hoon 21-17, 21-15 in 39 minutes. Three times All England mixed doubles winner Zhang Jun watched the match from the coach seat.

Yu Yang and He Hanbin obtained the mixed doubles trophy with a 13-21, 21-15, and 21-9 win over another Korean pair, Ha Jung-eun and Ko Sung-hyun.

Wang Yihan upset the tough defending champion Tine Rasmussen of Denmark 21-19, 21-23, and 21-11. It was Wang's first All England title. When the match finished, Wang expressed her happiness, approaching 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Zhang Ning.

Extraordinarily, the men's singles final was the easiest one although world number two Lin Dan's opponent was the world number one Lee Chong Wei. :p

Arsenal Thrash Burnley 3-0

Arshavin hugs Vela-Reuters

Arsenal is through to the semi-final of the FA Cup after beating the championship club Burnley 3-0. Carlos Vela scored the first goal at the 25th minute. Eduardo added a goal at the 51st minute and Emmanuel Eboue completed the victory with his strike at the 84th minute. Arsenal will face Hull City in the quarter-final.


Eboue scores goal-Reuters

Another FA Cup Sunday match was Everton versus Middlesbrough. The Toffies beat Boro 2-1.

FA Cup semi-final draw: Arsenal/Hull City v. Chelsea
Everton v. Manchester United

Great Lin Is Still the Best

Birmingham-World number two and three times All England champion Lin Dan proved that he is still the best after vanquishing top seed Lee Chong Wei in straight sets, 21-19 and 21-12. The match only lasted for 43 minutes.

Chinese Lin Dan created 8 smash winners and 3 net winners in the first set compared to Lee Chong Wei's 2 smash winners and just 1 net winner. Lin Dan led the first set 8-2, and then took it 21-19.

The second set was even easier. After leading 2-1, 3-2, 4-3, 5-4, and 6-5, Lee Chong Wei always trailed behind Lin Dan and managed only to take 12 points. Lin Dan was crowned the champion of the 2009 All England after sweeping the set 12.

For Lin Dan, it is his fourth title after winning the All England in 2004, 2006, and 2007.

Lin Dan to Face Lee Chong Wei

Chinese Lin Dan did not need any big struggle to advance to All England men's singles final. He overpowered Chen Jin 21-12 in the first game. Chen Jin retired when the score was 11-6 in the second game. Lin Dan will meet Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia who beat Indonesian big-mouthed Taufik Hidayat easily, 21-8, 21-13.

In the men's doules, six seed Lee Yong-dae and Shin Baek-cheol were downed by teammate Hwang Ji-man/Han Sang-hoon 17-21 and 18-21. Lee Yong-dae is All England 2008 champion, paired with Jung Jae-sung, and Hwang Ji-man is All England 2008 finalist with Lee Jae-jin as his partner. Hwang and Han will compete against Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng of China. Cai/Fu defeated Danish Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen in the semifinal in straight sets, 23-21 and 21-14.

Defending women's singles champion Tine Rasmussen of Denmark made her way to the final after a hard 22-24, 25-23, and 21-15 win over tough Chinese Jiang Yanjiao. Top seed Rasmussen will play against another Chinese, Wang Yihan, in the final. Wang Yihan beat Denmark's Nanna Brosolat Jensen without striving hard 21-11, 21-7.

China put other players in the final when mixed doubles team Yu Yang and He Hanbin defeated Russian Anastasia Russkikh and Indonesian Flandy Limpele in the semi-final, 21-12 and 21-14. Korean qualifiers Ha Jung-eun and Ko Sung-hyun eliminated Ma Jin and Zheng Bo to prevent an all-Chinese final in this event.

In the women's doubles, China already make sure of claiming a title after Cheng Shu/Zhao Yunlei subdued South Korean Ha Jung-eun/Kim Min-jung 21-23, 21-15, and 21-17. They will face seventh seed Zhao Tingting/Zhang Yawen who downed their fourth-seeded mates, Yu Yang and Du Jing.

Lin Dan Cruises, Koo/Tan Crash Out

Birmingham, England-Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medalist Lin Dan won over Danish Joachim Persson in an easy straight set, 21-13 and 21-6. It took only 27 minutes for the Chinese second seed to progress to the semi-final. His next opponent is compatriot Chen Jin. The other men's singles semi-final contenders are Malaysian Lee Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.


In the men's doubles, Lee Yong-dae/Shin Baek-cheol will take on fellow countrymen Hwang Ji-man/Han Sang-hoon in the semi-final. Qualifiers Hwang and Han passed fourth seed Zakry Abdul Latif and Tazari of Malaysia with a comfortable win, 21-9, 22-20, in the quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Malaysian coach Rexy Mainaky's dream players Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong bowed down to Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen. The first match went so easy that the Danish pairs win 21-7. Third seed Koo and Tan improved in the second set, but Boe and Mogensen were too good to them that Koo and Tan's attempts were of no use. They lost 7-21, 17-21.

In the mixed doubles, favorite champion Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung were out after a 21-13, 18-21, 18-21 defeat by unseeded Chinese Zheng Bo and Ma Jin. Another shocking result from mixed doubles matches is Indonesian Flandy Limpele, paired with Russian Anastasia Russkikh, beating world number one Nova Widhianto/Lilyana Natsir of Indonesia.

Saturday (3/7) semi-final fixtures:



Men's Doubles
6-Lee Yong-dae/Shin Baek-cheol (KOR) vs. Hwang Ji-man/Han Sang-hoon (KOR)
5-Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen (DEN) vs. 7-Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng (CHN)


Men's Singles
2-Lin Dan (CHN) vs. 3-Chen Jin (CHN)
1-Lee Chong Wei (MAS) vs. Taufik Hidayat (INA)


Women's Singles
1-Tine Rasmussen (DEN) vs. Jiang Yanjiao (CHN)
Wang Yihan (CHN) vs. Nanna Brosolat Jensen (DEN)


Women's Doubles
5-Ha Jung-eun/Kim Min-jung (KOR) vs. Cheng Shu/Zhao Yunlei (CHN)
Zhao Tingting/Zhang Yawen (CHN) vs. 3-Yu Yang/Du Jing (CHN)

Mixed Doubles
3-Yu Yang/He Hanbin (CHN) vs. Anastasia Russkikh (RUS)/Flandy Limpele (INA)
Ha Jung-eun/Ko Sung-hyun (KOR) vs. Ma Jin/Zheng Bo (CHN)

Lee Yong-dae/Shin Baek-choel Advance to the Semi-final

Birmingham-Six seed Lee Yong-dae and Shin Baek-cheol progressed to the men's doubles semi-final of All England by defeating Indonesian Mohammad Ahsan and Bona Septano of Indonesia 17-21, 21-15, and 21-14. The South Korean pair will face the winner between Malaysian Zakry Abdul Latif/Tazari versus another South Korean players, Hwang Ji-man/Han Sang Hoon.

In the botom half, fifth seed Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen will play against third-seeded Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong for the semi-final place. Meanwhile, Danish Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen and Chinese Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng will compete to get into the semi-final.

In the women's singles Jiang Yanjiao won the Chinese rivalry after downing teammate Lu Lan 21- , 22-20.

Surprisingly, South Korean third-seed Lee Hyo-jung and Lee Kyung-won withdrew in the quarter-final match against compatriot Ha Jung-eun and Kim Min-jung. This means that Ha/Kim are through the semi-final. Another women's doubles players that moved to the semi-final are Chinese Olympic 2008 gold-medalist Yu Yang/Du Jing. Yu/Du will meet the winner of an all Chinese quarter-final match. Zhao Tingting/Zhang Yawen will play against Pan Pan/Tian Qing.

Another matches today are mixed doubles player second seed Lee Yong-dae/Lee Hyo-jung facing Zheng Bo/Ma Jin for the semi-final ticket. The winner will meet one of these pairs: Ko Sung-hyun/Ha Jung-eun or Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg. Men's singles former world number one Lin Dan, who beat compatriot Bao Chunlai 21-14, 21-13, has a rendezvous with Joachim Persson. If Lin Dan wins, he will meet his junior Chen Jin, who overcame Sho Sasaki of Japan in rubber set, 14-21, 21-13, and 21-19.

West Brom 1-3 Arsenal

After being held 5 times in English Premier League, most of which ended goalless, finally Arsenal managed to beat West Bromwich Albion, which stands in the bottom of the league table. Nicklas Bendtner scored twice in the 4th and 44th minute while the other goal was scored by Kolo Toure in the 38th minute.

Failing in the Mixed Doubles, Lee Yong-dae Clinches the Men's Doubles Title

South Korean Lee Yong-dae and Shin Baek-cheol grabbed the 2009 German Open men's doubles title by beating Kenichi Hayakawa and Kenta Kazuno of Japan, 21-13 and 21-16. Creating 18 smash winners, it took only 27 minutes for the Korean fifth seed to win. It was Lee Yong-dae's first title with his new partner Shin Baek-cheol in their first tournament.



It was all-Chinese finals in the four other events. In the men's singles, Bao Chunlai defeated junior compatriot Gong Weijie 21-18, 21-14. Wang Yihan captured the women's singles title with a 20-22, 21-13, and 21-11 victory over Zhu Lin.



Zhao Yunlei grabbed two titles from women's doubles and mixed doubles. Cheng Shu and she surpassed teammates Pan Pan/Tian Qing 18-21, 21-13, and 21-16, while with Xu Chen, she overcame Zheng Bo and Ma Jin 21-18, 23-21.