Akane turns superstar in Dubai

India’s Saina Nehwal beat South Korea’s Bae Yeon Ju 15-21, 21-7, 21-17. — KT Photo by Shihab

Dubai — Akane Yamaguchi stole the limelight as the BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals’ reached the semifinal stages late on Friday. Leading the charge with clean 3/0 (win/loss) slates into the women’s singles semis were the impressive 17-year old Akane Yamagchi, the Japanese prodigy; and the ‘favourite’ of Dubai by now, Saina Nehwal of India.

Akane fought back to edge Chinese Taipeh’s Tai Tzu Ying 19-21, 21-14, 21-17. Saina conceded a set, the first in the event, when she was sent to the far corners by South Korea’s Bae Yeon Ju before working out solutions for a 15-21, 21-7, 21-17 victory over the Korean who looked exhausted.

Wang Shixian, the women’s singles top seed finished without a point from her three Group A matches. Wang’s misery was complete after South Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun eased past her 21-7 21-11. Sung, who lost to Saina in straight sets on Thursday, made the last four grade from the group as the second placed player.

“I’ve been playing badly as I’ve blisters on my feet,” said Wang. “I need to review the results this year with my coaches and hope to come back strongly next season.”

For Akane and Tai it was more of a warmup session rather than having to subject themselves to the permutations of as to how a person would be eligible for a semis berth after three rounds of hardwork at the Hamdan Sports Complex.

The crowds were big on Friday and the majority of them wasted no time took to scream from the word go for their all-time indoor sports favourite — Saina.

Akane said: “Tai is a very cool customer with great drops and a smash to the sides. I had to work really hard as she is in form now.” Saina was not into any kind of pressure as to who she would meeting in the semis. Instead, she said: “That’s when I come to know late after tonight, I am going to take it one at a time. Playing in Dubai is like another home base for. Actually the pressure on us playing in front of such an emotional and appreciative crowd is far more than what one can see.”

World champion Chen Long of China received a walkover for a 3/0 (win/loss) qualifying record as his opponent — South Korean Son Wan-Ho — was not eligible for the rest of the tournament after retiring hurt during his (Son) Thursday night match against Japanese Kenichi Tago.

Men’s singles semifinal entrants Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark) with a 1-1 record and Kidambi Srikanth (India) – 2-0; played a highly technical game, and the variations involved were of another level.

In short, it was a classic that will be remembered for a very long time, and the best seen to date in the inaugural Dubai Superseries.

Jorgensen managed a well planned and executed 21-17, 12-21, 21-14 readout in his favour and the two were seen having a friendly chat as they shook hands over the net after the Group B match.

“The crowd backing was amazing during our close match. I was familiar with Srikanth’s game after we met In Switzerland last. It was close tonight (Friday).” Srikanth said: “I lost the plot early, the first set was a reverse certainly and the strategies did not work out.” Earlier, Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark earned his best result of the year so far by making the semifinals beating Tago 21-19, 21-16.

Tago exited the tournament with two losses, along with other contenders like China’s Wang Shixian in the women’s singles; and defending women’s doubles champions Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Denmark). “I am truly excited for my chance to play in my first semifinals. My ambitions are to win the big titles and this feels like the perfect finish for the year and tomorrow will be at top level of my game,” Vittinghus said. “The courts are in perfect condition here and the hospitality has been world class and I look forward to playing in Dubai over the next few years.”

moni@khaleejtimes.com