Four Top-seeded Players in Men's Singles Semi-final

Paris (10/30) - All four top-seeded men's singles player reach French Super Series semi-final, including 2008 Olympic gold medalist and three times world champion, Lin Dan. In the quarter-final, the top seed overpowered Denmark's Joachim Persson in straight sets, 21-19 and 21-16, to meet compatriot third seed, Chen Jin.

The other semi-final contenders are second-seeded Peter Gade and Indonesian Taufik Hidayat. Gade beat Bao Chunlai of China in a tough match, 21-15, 14-21, and 21-13.

In the women's singles, Wang Lin, seeded 1, struggled hard to win over India's Sania Mirza 15-21, 21-11, and 21-15. She will take on Yao Jie of the Netherlands in the semi-final. Meanwhile, local favorite Pi Hongyan stopped qualifer Olga Konon's journey after a 25-23, 21-9 triumph. She will face third-seeded Wang Yihan who downed Lu Lan 21-17 and 23-21.

Indonesians Triumph

World number one men's doubles pair Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan eased to the semi-final as they humbled Malaysia's Zakry Abdul Latif and Fairuzizuan Tazari easily, 21-11 and 21-17. The Indonesians will compete against Chinese Tao Jiaming/Sun Junjie to win a final ticket.

However, Markis/Hendra's success is not followed by their teammates, Mohammad Ahsan and Bona Septano, who were defeated by Carsten Mogensen/Mathias Boe in a tough battle, 18-21, 21-12, 15-21. The Danish pair will face Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong in the semi-final.

In the mixed doubles, Indonesia put two pairs in the semi-finals. 2005 and 2007 world champion Nova Widhianto and Lilyana Natsir strove toughly to conquer Diju Valiyaveetel/Jwala Gutta 6-21, 22-20, and 21-10 while Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Vita Marissa progressed to the semi-final with a comfortable 21-18, 21-9 victory over Kristof Hopp and Anastasia Russkikh.

Women's doubles selected results:

5-Ma Jin/Wang Xiaoli (CHN) def. 1-Wong Pei Tty/Chin Eei Hui (MAS) 19-21, 21-19, 21-17

2-Cheng Shu/Zhao Yunlei (CHN) def. Jenny Wallwork/Gabrielle White (ENG) 21-17, 21-17

Serena to Sony Ericsson Championships Semi-final

Serena reacts after defeating Elena Dementieva in Sony Ericsson Championships round robin match - reuters.com

Serena Williams continued to show why she will end the year as number one as she beat Elena Dementieva in Doha.

The win sealed her place in the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Championships.

Williams needed to show resilience after falling a break down in the first set but then won seven games on the spin and never looked back from there - although she needed three match-points to finish it off.

"It was definitely a match I had to be really focused for, because she's a really good player," Williams told www.wtatour.com.

"She's one of those late bloomers who tends to get better and better as every year goes on in her career. I was probably playing the fittest girl on tour."

As well as booking a place in the last four for Williams, who will finish the year as number one after current leader Dinara Safina was forced to withdraw through injury yesterday, the result also gave her sister Venus a chance of progressing.

Venus made the most of that opportunity by beating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2 6-7 (3/7) 6-4 in this evening's late match.

The second qualifying place from the Maroon Group will now be decided by tomorrow's match between Dementieva and Kuznetsova.

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French Super Series Quarter-final Fixtures

Men's Singles
1-Lin Dan (CHN) vs. 6-Joachim Persson (DEN)
3-Chen Jin (CHN) vs. Hu Yun (HKG)
Chen Long (CHN) vs. 4-Taufik Hidayat (INA)
Bao Chunlai (CHN) vs. 2-Peter Gade (DEN)

Men's Doubles
1-Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan (INA) vs. 5-Zakry Abdul Latif/Fairuzizuan Tazari (MAS)
Sun Junjie/Tao Jiaming (CHN) vs. 8-Guo Zhendong/Xu Chen (CHN)
Bona Septano/Mohammad Ahsan (INA) vs. 3-Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen (DEN)
7-Anthony Clark/Nathan Robertson (ENG) vs. 2-Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong (MAS)

Mixed Doubles
2-Nova Widhianto/Lilyana Natsir (INA) vs. 6-Diju Valiyaveetil/Jwala Gutta (IND)
4-Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen (DEN) vs. 5-He Hanbin/Yu Yang (CHN)
8-Tao Jiaming/Zhang Yawen (CHN) vs. Koo Kien Keat/Wong Pei Tty (MAS)
7-Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Vita Marissa (INA) vs. Kristof Hopp (GER)/Anastasia Russkikh (RUS)

Women's Doubles
2-Cheng Shu/Zhao Yunlei (CHN) vs. Jenny Wallwork/Gabrielle White (ENG)
3-Yu Yang/Du Jing (CHN) vs. 7-Pan Pan/Zhang Yawen (CHN)
4-Lena Frier-Kristiansen/Kamilla Rytter-Juhl (DEN) vs. 8-Nitya Krishinda Maheswari/Greysia Polii (INA)
1-Wong Pei Tty/Chin Eei Hui (MAS) vs. 5-Ma Jin/Wang Xiaoli (CHN)

Women's Singles
1-Wang Lin (CHN) vs. 8-Saina Nehwal (IND)
Yao Jie (NED) vs. Adriyanti Firdasari (INA)
7-Lu Lan (CHN) vs. 3-Wang Yihan (CHN)
5-Pi Hongyan (FRA) vs. Olga Konon (POL)

Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool in Carling Cup

Lukasz Fabianski saves a shot

London (10/28) - Arsenal cruised past Liverpool 2-1 to join Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Tottenham Hotspurs, Aston Villa, and Portsmouth in English League Cup quarter-finals.



For once, Wenger's Carling Cup XI was more experienced than the team they were facing. Samir Nasri (broken leg) and Lukasz Fabianski (knee) were playing their first games of the season after medium-term injuries. Eduardo and Bendtner were also given a start after recent spells on the sidelines. Mikael Silvestre, Fran Merida, Kieran Gibbs and Aaron Ramsey had spent a lot of the season on the bench for the first team so they needed competition. Kerrea Gilbert was now a "veteran youngster" - if the term exists - so the most interesting inclusion was Craig Eastmond. The 18-year-old was mainly known as a right back in the Reserves. Tonight he was deputising for Alex Song as Arsenal's holding midfielder.


Liverpool's starting line-up was littered with players who had been on the fringes of their first-team - Andriy Voronin, Babel, Insua and David Ngog. The only regular was captain Kuyt. However Rafa Benitez did name the likes of Yossi Benayoun, Pepe Reina, Andrea Dossena and debutant Alberto Aquilani on the bench.





Fran Merida scores Arsenal's first goal

At the 19th minute, Arsenal gained the lead as 19-year-old Fran Merida got the ball on the right and cut inside to unleash a thunderbolt shot at the Liverpool goal. The ball clipped the inside of the post and hit the back of the net.

Liverpool equalized just 7 minutes later through a strike from 25 yards by Emiliano Insua. Fabianski had no chance and could only watch as the ball was lifted over him, the dip timed perfectly to drop into the back of the net.


Bendtner celebrates his goal with Eduardo

Five minutes in the second half, the Gunners got the better of the Reds again. Merida played the ball to Bendtner on the edge of the area. The Dane controlled the ball and goes past Skrtel to fire into the roof of the net.

Arsenal maintain their 100 per cent record at Emirates this season and progress to the Carling Cup Quarter-Final with a 2-1 win over Liverpool.



source and pictures by arsenal.com

Host Win Two Titles

Odense (10/25) - Indonesia's fifth-seeded men's singles player, Simon Santoso, won his first super series title with an easy 21-14, 21-6 win over unseeded Marc Zwiebler in 38 minutes. It was the only straight-sets match of the final. The other three matches were played in three sets.

Yellow Card for Kien Keat

In the men's doubles, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong gained their second European title of this year after they defeated local favorite Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen in a tough match, 20-22, 21-14, and 21-17.

The turning point for the second-seeded pair was in the rubber game when they were trailing 15-16 in the rubber game.

Boon Heong served to Boe but the shuttle hit a moving Mogensen.

Instead of calling it a point, the umpire Carol Ui Fhearghail of Ireland allowed a let that saw Kien Keat reacting furiously.

He challenged the call but the umpire insisted that it did not touch Mogensen and even an intervention from national coach to seek help from the tournament referee fell on deaf ears.

Kien Keat was given a yellow card.

“I was so disappointed with the umpire. She did not give me a chance to explain and I was given a yellow card for questioning. I did not behave badly.

“I am happy that I stayed cool despite the incident. In the past, I would have showed my anger on the court. It all turned out to be a good ending for us. It certainly motivated us to do even better at the crucial stage. Boon Heong and I did well to phyche each other up, which was so important," said Kien Keat who won his third Denmark Open after winning it in 2005 with Chan Chong Ming and 2007 with Boon Heong.

Pan Pan/Zhang Yawen of China grabbed women's doubles title as they beat second-seeded Lena Frier Kristiansen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark 22-20, 18-21, and 21-12.

Denmark won other 2 titles. Tine Rasmussen clinched women's singles title after a 21-18, 19-21, and 21-14 victory over Wang Yihan of China.

Meanwhile, Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen became the mixed doubles winner as they vanquished seventh-seeded Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg in a marathon match, 21-16, 25-27, and 21-17, in an hour 22 minutes. This is the longest match of the final.

Finally Final

Denmark Open finals are dominated by second seeds, except for the men's singles. Fifth-seeded Simon Santoso of Indonesia will play against German unseeded Mark Zwiebler after beating Jan O'Jorgensen 21-13, 21-13.

Meanwhile, Zwiebler downed Simon's compatriot Sony Dwi Kuncoro, seeded 2, in rubber sets, 21-10, 16-21, and 21-15. This achievement is Zwiebler's first Super Series final. He has defeated 4th seed Wong Choong Hann in the first round and eight-seeded Chen Long in the quarter-final.

Sony's loss results in no all-Indonesian men's singles final.

Second Seeds Dominate

In other matches, the final contenders are second-seeded. Denmark's women's doubles pair, Kamilla Rytter Juhl/Lena Frier Kristiansen reach the final with a 19-21, 21-18, 21-19 victory over Japanese Shizuka Matsuo/Mami Naito. They will compete against sixth-seeded Pan Pan/Zhang Yawen who beat unseeded Zhang Dan/Zhang Zhibo of Macau 21-15 and 21-15.

Top seed Wang Yihan is challenged by local favorite Tine Rasmussen in women's singles final. In the semi-final, Wang subdued Eriko Hirose 21-13, 19-21, and 21-11 while Rasmussen overcame Yao Jie of the Netherlands in straight sets, 21-18, 21-14.

In the mixed doubles, second-seeded Joachim Fischer/Christinna Pedersen will take on 7th-seeded Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg as they beat Polandia's Robert Mateusiak/Nadiezda Kostiuczyk in a tough 21-18, 19-21, 23-21 match. Clark/Kellogg defeated 6th-seeded Tao Jiaming/Zhang Yawen 21-18 and 21-17.

Denmark's Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen progress to men's doubles final by conquering world number one Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia 21-16, 21-19 in 37 minutes. They will face second seeds Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong who stunned Sun Junjie/Tao Jiaming in the semi-final. Boe/Mogensen hope to win their first home title.

Boe, especially, has an extra reason to win. “I been staying in Odense since I was five years old and it will be really nice to achieve something special here,” said the 29-year-old.

“We have played against Koo and Tan many times and lost most of them. They have a slight advantage but I think the race is still wide open.

“Our (Mogensen and my) best achievement in the Denmark Open is a quarter-final finish and this time it will be perfect to win it.”

However, the Danish pair's attempt to win this title won't be easy as Kien Keat and Boon Heong are seeking their second Super Series title of this year after winning Swiss Open last March.

“It is great to be in the final of a Super Series again. In the previous Super Series in Japan, we lost in the first round ... it was important to make amends here,” said Kien Keat, who has won the Denmark Open title with Chan Chong Ming in 2005.

“We are familiar with the Danish pair. They defeated us at the All-England and we had our revenge at the Swiss Open.

“We’ve always enjoyed a good outing in Europe and, hopefully, this good run will continue.”

thestar

AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas controls the ball


An equaliser deep into injury time denied Arsenal all three points at AZ Alkmaar on Tuesday night but Arsenal still have control of Champions League Group H.


Arsenal led 0-1 by Cesc Fabregas' goal at 36th minute. Arshavin plays the ball left to Van Persie who unselfishly passes the ball right to Fabregas who taps in at the far post.





But then, in the 93rd minute, Arshavin fouled Moreno deep inside the AZ half. Stijn Schaars leathered the free-kick forward, Graziano Pelle nodded down and Mendes da Silva lashed home the volley, equalizing the score 1 all.



Andrei Arshavin

Cesc and AZ Alkmaar player



Group E
Debrecen 3-4 Fiorentina
Liverpool 1-2 Olympique Lyon

Group F
Barcelona 1-2 Rubin Kazan
Inter Milano 2-2 Dynamo Kyev

Group G
Rangers 1-4 Unirea Urziceni
VfB Stuttgart 1-3 Sevilla

Group H
AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Arsenal
Olympiacos 2-1 R. Standard de Liège




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China Withdraw from Denmark Open

Some Chinese players withdrew from Denmark Open which has started on October 20, including former top-seeded singles players, Lin Dan and Wang Lin. Lin Dan is Denmark Open champion in 2003, 2004, and 2007.

Defending champion and local favorite, Peter Gade, replaces Lin Dan's seed in the tournament. Because of China's withdrawal, the tournament did a redraw and new seeding.

But still there are few Chinese players who compete. Wang Yihan is seeded one in the women's singles, replacing Wang Lin. Sun Junjie, Tao Jiaming, Guo Zhendong, Xu Chen, and Zhang Yawen.


Lin Dan beat Bao Chunlai, becoming the first becoming the first player in National Games history to defend his title

picture from badzine.info

Andrei Scores Arsenal's Third Goal

Andrei Arshavin celebrates his goal

This season at Emirates, Wenger’s side had been registering nothing but free-scoring wins and the first 38 minutes only suggested more of the same.

In the opening stages, Cesc Fabregas clipped a long pass forward towards Van Persie. Roger Johnson intervened but only succeeded in nodding the ball invitingly into the path of the onrushing Rosicky, who made a hash of his attempted volley.


Theo Walcott is tackled by Birmingham player


Theo receives medication

Shortly afterwards, Liam Ridgewell clattered Walcott in midfield causing the England midfielder to require treatment. He came back on and, with his first touch, tricked the same defender, sprinted up the right wing and forced Joe Hart to tip over the bar with rasping, angled drive.


Robin van Persie fires Arsenal's first goal

Robin celebrates his goal

Arsenal were starting to pin back Birmingham so the opening goal came as no surprise. In the 16th minute, Song prodded a ball into the left-hand channel, Van Persie dug it out from beneath his own feet before firing home his fourth goal in his last four games.


Abou Diaby scores Arsenal's second goal

A couple of minutes later it was 2-0. An irresistible move ended with Rosicky cutting the ball back across the area from the right-hand side. It was too far behind Van Persie and too far in front of Walcott however Diaby collected then stroked home the second.


Diaby is congratulated after scoring

However, that would change seven minutes before the break. Birmingham players worked a corner to Barry Ferguson, whose cross was nodded high into his own area by Abou Diaby. Larsson’s presence forced Mannone to spill his attempted catch and, with Arsenal awaiting the referee’s whistle, Bowyer hooked home from close range at the far post.

Just before the goal, Walcott had made way for Arshavin. The Englishman was clearly feeling the effects of that early challenge.


Andrei Arshavin receives passing from Cesc Fabregas


Andrei scores a goal

In the second half, both Arsenal and Birmingham players created opportunities to strike, but the score did not change until five minutes from the final whistle. Fabregas led the breakaway and Arshavin teased his marker before steering home a low drive just inside the far post.

Andrei strikes in front of Joe Hart, Birmingham goalkeeper

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Lin Dan Will Play in Denmark Open

World number two, Lin Dan of China, will compete in Denmark Open Super Series. The tournament will start on October 10.

Lin, seeded no. 1, will face Przemyslaw Wacha in the first round. If he beats seventh-seeded Simon Santoso in the quarter-final, Lin Dan may meet compatriot Chen Jin or sixth seed Wong Choong Hann.

In the bottom half, second seed Peter Gade will fight against 8th-seedeth Bao Chunlai and 4th-seeded Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia to face Lin Dan in the final.

Fabregas: I'm Sticking with Gunners

Cesc kisses his Arsenal badge after scoring a goal

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Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas insists he sees his long-term future at the club.

Fabregas has been angered by speculation about his plans and put the record straight after the 6-2 Barclays Premier League victory against Blackburn.

The 22-year-old kissed the badge after scoring and told Sky Sports: "I am committed to this club, it is my seventh season here.

"It is hard to hear people saying I am not committed or something. It was a good time to show I love this club."

Blackburn twice took the lead only for Arsenal to fight back and mark manager Arsene Wenger's 13 years in charge with a comfortable victory.

Fabregas was outstanding and said: "We did not do well in the first 10 to 15 minutes and were a bit shaky defensively. But after the goal we did well and it was a good game."

Asked about his own display, he added: "I am happy with all the team's performance.

"We can do better - it is just one more game in the race for the title."

Cesc Fabregas shows Arsenal badge, hugged by teammate Tomas Rosicky-yahoo.sports

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Arsenal Missiles Bombard Blackburn Defense

Andrei Arshavin controls the ball



Andrei, Robin, and Cesc celebrate Arsenal's goal

Arsenal twice came back from behind before eventually beating Blackburn Rovers 6-2 at the Emirates Stadium.


Andrei Arshavin shoots and scores Arsenal's third goal


Cesc Fabregas runs

Cesc Fabregas produced a virtuoso display as Arsenal saw off the challenge of Blackburn in their Barclays Premier League match, where Theo Walcott marked his return from injury with a late goal.


Thomas Vermaelen scores the goal

Steven Nzonzi had nodded Rovers ahead in the fourth minute before Thomas Vermaelen smashed home an equaliser.


Robin van Persie

David Dunn's deflected effort put the visitors back in front, but Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin saw Arsenal lead 3-2 at the break.


Cesc toasts with Theo

Captain Fabregas got the goal his performance deserved just before the hour, and then helped set up substitute Walcott on 75 minutes with Nicklas Bendtner cracking in a sixth late on.

Arsenal confirm their fourth position of English Premier League standings because Chelsea defeated Liverpool 2-0 in Stamford Bridge. Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda scored the goals to Liverpool goalkeeper, Jose Reina.


Theo hugs captain Cesc


Nicklas Bendtner and Blackburn's goalkeeper Paul Robinson

Other English Premier League Sunday results:
West Ham 2-2 Fulham
Everton 1-1 Stoke City

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Gilles Captures Thailand Open Title

Gilles Simon boosted his hopes of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals by winning the Thailand Open on Sunday.

The Frenchman went into the PTT Thailand Open ranked 10th in the standings, with only the top eight qualifying for the prestigious event at the O2.

Simon, the second seed, was up against Serbia's Victor Troicki today after he upset top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in yesterday's semi-finals.

Troicki served for the first set at 5-4 but he could not close it out and Simon reeled off the next three games to move ahead.

The second set was more of a formality for the 24-year-old and he was able to celebrate a 7-5 6-3 victory.

"It feels really good because it's never easy to win a tournament, even when you're one of the top seeds," Simon said on http://www.atpworldtour.com/.

"I had four good matches to play, I won it and I guess it's very nice because it's the first one of the season."

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