Lin Dan Gives China Third French Open 2009 Title

Paris (11/1) - Lin Dan triumph at Paris after an easy 21-6, 21-15 win over Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat.

Top seed Lin Dan never let Taufik even equalize his score in the first set. He left Taufik 10-6 and progressed to win 21-6. In the second set, Taufik gave Lin Dan a better fight. But the four times All England winner showed his greatness when he led 18-15 and won the second set 21-15.
Even though Taufik played his best such as backhand smash and net play, it was not enough to overcome the three times world champion.

"I played very well today and I'm very happy with my performance," said Lin Dan after he won his first French Open title. "I expected more from Taufik, but he looked a little off the pace, which may have been a result of his tough match against Peter Gade yesterday. Now I will continue to train haird and be ready for the Worlds here in this stadium next year."

Lin Dan's win makes China have more title than Indonesia's 2 titles.

Easy Final Matches

The final matches went easily that most of them were won in 0nly two matches.

China won their other 2 titles from women's matches. Third seed Wang Yihan subdued top seed Wang Lin 21-9 and 21-12. Women's doubles second-seeded pair Cheng Shu/Zhao Yunlei lost to compatriot Ma Jin/Wang Xiaoli 13-21, 8-21.

Indonesia grabbed men's and mixed doubles titles mixed doubles' second seeds, Nova Widhianto and Lilyana Natsir, vanquished their teammates Hendra Aprida Gunawan and Vita Marissa 21-7 and 21-7 to end their 10 months drought.

Markis and Hendra Are Better

2007 world champions and world number one men's doubles of Indonesia, Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan, were better now than the only non-Chinese or non-Indonesian finalists, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong. The Malaysians could not continue their success of winning Denmark Open last week.

In the only three-set match of the day, defending champions beat Kien Keat and Boon Heong 15-21, 21-15, and 21-14 in only 39 minutes. A minute longer than Lin Dan's match.

Even if Kien Keat and Boon Heong showed some greatness, as Kien Keat sitting on the floor at one point, sending back two smashes then winning the rally, they could not claim the title.


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