Lin Dan Wins His Second Super Series Premier

World champion Lin Dan won his second super series premier title in 2011 after winning China Open final today against compatriot Chen Long 21-17, 26-24. He also makes sure of world number two ranking until the end of 2011.



China Open final results:

Women's Doubles
1-Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang (CHN) vs. Tang Jinhua/Xia Huan (CHN) 21-11, 21-10

Women's Singles
2-Wang Yihan (CHN) vs. 3-Wang Xin (CHN) 18-21, retired

Men's Doubles
3-Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen (DEN) vs. 4-Ko Sung-hyun/Yoo Yeon-seong (KOR) 21-17, 21-13

Mixed Doubles
1-Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei (CHN) vs. 3-Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen (DEN) 21-11, 21-14

Men's Singles
3-Lin Dan (CHN) vs. 2-Chen Long (CHN) 21-17, 26-24

pictures by www.bwfbadminton.org

Federer Seeks His Sixth Year-End Title

London (11/27) - Defending champion Roger Federer reached his seventh final of ATP World Tour Finals, previously named as Tennis Masters Cup before it was changed in 2009. The fourth seed defeated 2007 runner-up David Ferrer of Spain 7-5, 6-3 in the semi-finals in O2 Arena, London.

In the final, Federer will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who already met him in the group stage. In the last four, Tsonga overcame Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5.

"It's obviously going to be a special occasion for me tomorrow, playing my 100th final, possibly winning my 70th, winning my sixth at the World Tour Finals," Federer said after stretching his current winning streak to 16.

"It will be quite funny to play Tsonga in the finals of Paris, on the first day here and the next Sunday again. He's very confident right now and he's going to be extremely dangerous," added Federer. Federer's 806th victory on tour, the same as his boyhood idol Stefan Edberg, will not go down as one of his classics.
Federer's 806th victory on tour, the same as his boyhood idol Stefan Edberg, will not go down as one of his classics.



He made 29 unforced errors and struck four winners from the back of the court, but his B game was still too good for world number five Ferrer who, for all his hustle and bustle, could not engineer a single break point in the 85 minute contest.

The only sticky moment for Federer was at 4-5 in the opening set when he was taken to five deuces but he upped the tempo in the next game, breaking Ferrer's serve to seize control.

"Obviously it was a key 5-4 game for me to hold and then break the next game, then actually break again early on in the second set," Federer, who will climb back to three in the ATP rankings above Murray, said.

"That was a crucial 15, 20 minutes for me. I'm happy I was able to decide the match right there."

If Federer wins tomorrow's match, he will pass Pete Sampras' and Ivan Lendl's record of winning five year-end championships. He already won the year-end championships in 2003, 2004, 206, 2007, and 2010.

Meanwhile, Tsonga said victory in Sunday's final would be even bigger than beating Federer at Wimbledon this year.

"It's going to be better because this is for a title," he said. "This tournament is the top eight players in the world. If I can join the great names on the trophy it will be amazing.

"It's going to be really special for my first final here. It's going to be an amazing atmosphere on the court.

"Roger is the best player for the moment indoors. But I think I can join him for one match."

reuters

Once Again Lin Dan Thrashes Lee Chong Wei

After defeating Lee Chong Wei in Hong Kong Open semi-final last week, now four-time world champion Lin Dan of China overthrew the Malaysian again to reach the China Open final. The former world number one needed an hour and 16 minutes to crush Lee Chong Wei 19-21, 21-12, and 21-11. In the final, Lin Dan will meet his junior Chen Long who beat Indonesia's Simon Santoso 21-14, 21-14 earlier.

Arshavin Scores for Arsenal's First Win

Andrei Arshavin scored a goal to Swansea, giving Arsenal's its first victory in 2011-2012 Premier League. In the 40th minute, Theo Walcott’s shot looped high and wide only for Swansea goalkeeper Michael Vorm to intercept and bowl out the ball on the far side of the area. His effort hit the heel of Angel Rangel and fell nicely for Arshavin, who converted in to the empty net from an acute angle. Finally Arsenal won 1-0.

arsenal 1 2

Can China Repeat Last Year's Success?

It is not impossible for China to take all the world championship title as they have done last year. Mixed doubles player Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei opened the match day, competing against another Chinese pair, Xu Chen and Ma Jin. Leading 21-17 in the first set, Zhang and Zhao did not need to play the second set as Xu and Ma retired due to Ma's injury.

In the other mixed doubles semis, Indonesia's world number two Tontowi Ahmad and Lilyana Natsir surprisingly were subjected to home favorites Chris Adcock and Scottish Imogen Bankier. The unseeded pair won in straight sets 21-16 and 21-19.

"Today I think I was playing with the best women's mixed doubles player in the world. She tore Natsir up and made my job so easy," Adcock praised his partner. He was also happy to reach the world championship final in his own country.

Meanwhile, disappointed Lilyana revealed that her and Tontowi's game were easily guessed by their opponents. "We should have been defensive first, not aggressively attacking. Bankier was ready in the net. Finally they attacked us which made us under pressure and confused," she said.

In the men's doubles, Korean Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung fail to advance to the final after losing to China's defending champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng in their 15th meeting, 18-21 and 14-21. Now Lee and Jung head-to-head is 7-8 against Cai and Fu.

However, Lee and Jung's teammates Ko Sung-hyun and Yoo Yeon-seong succeed to the final after vanquishing Indonesia's Mohammad Ahsan/Bona Septano 21-19 and 21-15.

Wang Yihan emerges as the winner in the Chinese-meeting semi-final. The second seed downs the third seed Wang Xin 21-15 and 21-15 to face Taiwanese Cheng Shao-Chieh in the final.

For sure, China will win the women's doubles title after placing their two pairs in the final. Top seed Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang will play compatriots Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei. Wang and Yu excelled Japanese third-seeded Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna in the semi-final 21-8 and 21-15 while Tian and Zhao eases to the final with a 21-14, 21-16 victory over India's Jwala Gutta/Ashwini Ponnappa.

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pictures by xinhuanews and bwfbadminton

Lin Dan's Fifth World Championship Final

London (8/13) - Once again China's powerful Lin Dan makes it to the final of World Championship. He is closer to his fourth title after winning the same crown in 2006, 2007, and 2009.

In the the last four, 27-year-old Lin Dan defeated veteran third seed Peter Gade of Denmark 22-24, 21-7, and 21-15. Next, the former world number one will face nemesis Lee Chong Wei in the final. Previously, the 28-year-old Malaysian has beaten defending champion Chen Jin 21-13 and 21-9.

However, Lin Dan stated that he was more interested in winning ranking points for the Olympic Games than becoming the world champion again.

"I don't care about the result of tomorrow's (Sunday's) final," Lin Dan claimed.

"It's more important just to try to win as many ranking points as possible to qualify for the Olympics, and to get used to the venue. I think Lee Chong Wei is in really good form."

On the other hand, Lee Chong Wei who has just reached his first final of world championship is very ecstatic. He said that he was finally in the final in his sixth attempt at the world meet. "I am so happy that I kept my focus throughout the match and did not stumble,” he uttered.

Until now, Lin Dan has a better meeting against Lee Chong Wei with a 15-8 in their head-to-head record.

thestar

Rogers Cup - Serena and Stosur Clash

Toronto - Serena Williams reaches Rogers Cup final after defeating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3 and 6-3.

The former world number one, who returned to competition in June after 11 months out with injuries and health problems, will carry a 10-match winning streak into the final against Samantha Stosur and appears in ominous form ahead of the U.S. Open starting August 29.

Williams, who won the Stanford Classic last month in her third tournament back, said her game was reaching her Wimbledon-winning form from last year.

"I feel it's better today than it has been the past couple rounds but I feel it's coming along," Williams told reporters.

"I still can do better but overall I am almost where I was but I want to exceed that level."

Stosur booked a spot in her second final of 2011 with a 6-2 5-7 6-2 win over Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, who came into the match riding a nine-match win streak and having not dropped a set all week.

The 27-year-old Australian, who lost to Maria Sharapova in the Italian Open final in May, broke her opponent twice during a dominant first set before letting the 13th seed back in.

But Stosur, who has been improving with each match of the tournament, hit back the swift third set which she capped off in style with her seventh ace of the day.

Williams has a 3-2 edge in head-to-head meetings with Stosur, but the Australian won their last match in their quarter-final at the 2010 French Open.

reuters

BWF World Championship - No Surprises for World Number Ones

London (8/11) - All world number ones advance to Yonex BWF World Championship semi-finals. In the men's singles semi-final, top seed Lee Chong Wei is challenged by Guatemala's unseede Kevin Cordon. Cordon, who is unexpected to reach the quarter-finals, beat Spanish Pablo Avian 21-19, 19-21, and 21-17 in the third round. Earlier, Cordon has crushed China's fifth seed Chen Long in the first round.



Meanwhile, in the bottom half, 2008 Olympic champion and three-time world champion Lin Dan of China conquered South Korean Lee Hyun-il in straight sets 21-16 and 21-13 to book the quarter-final clash with Japanese Sho Sasaki. If Lin Dan beat Sasaki, he might face either the only European men's singles player left, Peter Gade, or Vietnam's Nguyen Tien Minh.

“Hyun-il is a patient and steady player. He is certainly playing better after coming out of retirement. But I am happy that I stayed calm and did my job well,” said Lin Dan.

“I feel good about my game so far and I will give my best.”

Before meeting seventh-seeded Cheng Shao Chieh in the last eight, the women's singles number one Wang Shixian of China subdued Thailand's Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 21-7 and 21-11. Shixian's compatriots, Wang Yihan and Wang Xin, also successfully reach the quarter-finals. Second-seeded Yihan will play French Pi Hongyan while third-seeded Wang Xin will face Indian Saina Nehwal.

In the men's doubles, China's Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng won a three-set match against Japanese Naoji Kawamae and Shoji Sato 21-17, 15-21, and 21-14 to meet Mads Conrad-Petersen and Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark in the last four. Their juniors, Shen Ye and Hong Wei, also advances to the semi-final to face world number three Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung who defeated Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa easily 21-14 and 21-5.

China places two women's doubles pairs in the last eight, and so does Indonesia while Japan has three pairs. World number one pair from China, Wang Xiaoli/Yu Yang, will meet Japanese Shizuka Matsuo/Mami Naito.

In the mixed doubles, top seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei cruise to the quarter-final with a 21-13, 21-18 win over German Michael Fuchs and Birgit Michels. Next they play Taiwanese pairs.

thestar

Korea Open Super Series Premier Winners

Home favorites Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung triumphed in Victor Korea Open final with a 21-6, 21-13 victory over world number one pair of Denmark Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen in Seoul National University Gymnasium.

The sixth-seeded Koreans dominantly ended the match in only 33 minutes to secure the first men's doubles Super Series Premier crown. Yong-dae and Jae-sung, who are the defending champions, knelt down happily after the win. They deserve US$94800 prize money.

“We are sort of half and half against this Danish pair,” said Yong-dae.

“It seems each time we think we’ll beat them, we’ll lose and when we think we’ll lose, we beat them. Kido and Setiawan have really proven that they can come through in the big matches and they have a lot of experience doing so. This Danish pair is very difficult to play against but we always feel like we have more of a chance against them. It’s the same with Cai/Fu of China so we were actually hoping that it would be Boe/Mogensen who came up on the other side to the finals."

“The condition of my elbow has really improved and I feel so much more confident playing men’s doubles without having played mixed,” 22-year-old Yong-dae added.

“Coach Kang Kyung Jin coach has really had me working hard on the weights because my lack of power meant we were really at a disadvantage when I was rotated to the back. Now that my power has improved, we find it easier to rotate, knowing that we can both take on the attacking opportunities.

“There were so many people there today that I was really nervous at the beginning, especially when the 0-0 score went up on the board. It was only once we started winning and the crowd was behind us that I was able to settle down.

“We felt it was best to skip the Malaysia Open this year. After our loss in the final in Taipei, we really felt we needed more training. Also we lost in the first round there last year so we were glad to avoid being reminded of that this year.”


Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei pose

Lin Dan Reigns

In the men's singles, 2008 Olympics gold medalist and the three-times world champion 27-year-old Lin Dan showed his higher class to 28-year-old Lee Chong Wei in the men's singles final. The final was full of smashes and world-class shots that was eventually won by Lin Dan.

Lin Dan opened his arms after winning the third set. He jumped the advertisement board and ran to the crowds where he got the Chinese flag.

The former number one mastered the current number one 21-19, 14-21, and 21-16. Now their head-to-head is 15-5 for Lin Dan who won the last 7 meetings against Chong Wei.

In the mixed doubles, Chinese Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei won their second title in 2011 season by defeating compatriots Tao Jiaming and Tian Qing 21-17, 13-21, and 21-19.

Now it is Wang Yihan's turn to win because Wang Shixian had beaten her in Malaysia Open final last week. Wang Yihan vanquished Wang Shixian 21-14, 21-18 to grab the women's singles Korea Open title.

Zhao Yunlei failed to add her title collection as she and Tian Qing lost to Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang in the women's doubles final 18-21, 21-19, and 21-4.


Left to right : Tao Jiaming, Tian Qing, Zhang Nan, Zhao Yunlei

pictures by bwfbadminton.org
badzine.info

Aussie Kim

Kim Clijsters poses with her Australian Open at Brighton Beach in Melbourne

(Reuters) - Kim Clijsters drew on her huge wealth of experience to ride out a Li Na storm and claim her maiden Australian Open title Saturday by shattering China's dream of a first grand slam champion.

The Belgian battled back after dropping the first set to beat Li 3-6 6-3 6-3 in an intense final and win her fourth major title, her third since her return from retirement and a first outside the U.S. Open.

The girl, who Australians had taken to their hearts when she was romantically involved with local hero Lleyton Hewitt, had returned a woman and a mother and she basked, teary-eyed, in the warm applause from the center court crowd.

"Now I feel you guys can call me 'Aussie Kim' because I won the title," said Clijsters, who lost the 2004 final.

Her triumph had looked unlikely when Li, Asia's first finalist in any of the sport's four majors, overcame her customary poor start to dominate most of the first two sets and genuinely rattle the tournament favorite.



Where the younger Clijsters might have crumbled, however, she now merely made subtle adjustments to her game to knock the powerful Li off her stride and in the deciding set it was the Chinese whose mental frailities betrayed her.

The 27-year-old Clijsters rattled through the third set in just over half an hour before claiming victory when Li slapped a forehand into the net for her 40th unforced error of the two hour five minute contest.

"It was such an intense match," Clijsters added, explaining her tears. "I don't think I had that in one of the grand slams where I've won. To win it in this way means it a lot.

"I think it's that moment that overwhelms you, where your mind has been so focused, I'm fighting every shot, running a lot of balls down, and it's finished. That's what makes it just nice, and I guess this big relief."

Li, who had come back from 5-0 down in the first set to upset Clijsters in the final of the Sydney warm-up tournament two weeks ago, again gave her opponent a head start by failing to win a point in the first two games of the match.

Despite the Sydney defeat, Clijsters had still entered the tournament as favorite in the absence of injured 2010 champion Serena Williams, after she beat former world number one Dinara Safina 6-0 6-0 in the first round.

reuters

Lin Dan Set Up Korean Final Clash with Chong Wei

2010 Asian Games champion Lin Dan strove hard to book the final ticket of Victor Korea Open Super Series Premier. The Chinese man needed an hour and 15 minutes to down Simon Santoso of Indonesia 23-21, 20-22, and 21-15.

Lin Dan has the chance to win the first Super Series Premier if he overcome Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei in the final. Lee Chong Wei had beaten Chinese Du Pengyu 21-10 and 21-10 in the last four.

China dominates the women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles finals as the contestants are all from China. World number one Wang Shixian will compete against world number two Wang Yihan in the final. In the semi-finals, Shixian vanquished young Thailand's Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 21-7, 21-13 while Yihan defeated unseeded local player Sung Ji-hyun 21-5, 18-21, and 21-18.

In the women doubles, Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei will meet Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli in the final. However, Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei have to be opponents in the mixed doubles as Tian Qing pairing with Tao Jiaming will face world number two Zhao Yunlei and Zhang Nan in the final.



Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung are the only Koreans in the final as they defeated world number five Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong in the men's doubles semi-finals. The 2008 All England winners won 20-22, 21-9, and 21-10.

Nonetheless, crushed 17-21 and 19-21 by top seed Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark, another Korean pair Ko Sung-hyun and Yoo Yeon-seong failed to reach the final.

pictures by bwfbadminton.org and badzine.info

First Title in 2011

Switzerland's Roger Federer raises the golden eagle trophy after beating Nikolay Davydenko of Russia

Roger Federer started the 2011 season with an awesome 6-3, 6-4 win over Nikolay Davydenko to collect his third Qatar Open title on Saturday (1/8).

"It does feel great," Federer said to winning his 67th career title. "I can't believe the season is under way and I'm already on the board with a title."

It was a good preparation for Federer to play in Australian Open on January 17.

"I'm very happy to kick-off the season today this way I think I played an amazing match... it will give me a lot of confidence for the remainder of the season," said the 29-year-old Swiss, who will head to Australia for a week of practice.

reuters
rogerfederer