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.