Susi, Ye to clash in Japan Open badminton final
Susi, Ye to clash in Japan Open badminton final
TOKYO (Agencies): Indonesia's Olympic champion sweethearts had
differing fortunes at the Japan Open badminton tournament
yesterday with Susi Susanti winning but her fiance Alan
Budikusuma on the losing side.
Susi, who plans to marry Budikusuma after the Atlanta
Olympics, fought off a spirited challenge from Camilla Martin of
Denmark 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, setting up a final showdown against
Chinese world champion Ye Zhaoying.
On an adjacent court, Budikusuma was losing to world and
defending champion Hariyanto Arbi 10-15, 11-15 in the men's
singles event. Hariyanto will play a repeat of last year's final
against compatriot Joko Suprianto, a 15-7, 15-2 winner over Lee
Kwang-Jin of South Korea.
Ye was easily dispatched teammate Han Jingna 11-3, 11-2
earlier in the day.
"Of course, I never watched his game when I was in play, but
when I was taking a rest during points, I took a look at his
scoreboard," said Susi, who was on court for 52 minutes.
Susi lost a 5-2 lead as her sky-high clears often went long or
wide, while Martin fired a series of overhead shots for a clean
winner to take the opening game -- the first game the Dane had
won from Susi for four years.
After Susi squared the contest, the two women fought point for
point but the Indonesian broke the tie at 8-8 with a service ace
and held on for victory.
"I played Camilla seven or eight times before and she played
her best match today. Maybe my warming up was not enough. I
couldn't move as quick as usual because it's cold," said Susi.
Asked about the final against Ye, Susanti said: "I believe
she's determined to beat me tomorrow since I beat her last week.
If I play like today, I may lose.. We'll see tomorrow."
Ye said: "Last week, Susi played a defensive game, never
playing on the offensive -- that was the cause of my defeat. I'm
going to prepare against any of her tactics tomorrow."
In the Taipei Open final last weekend, Susi won on the expense
of only seven points to stretch her record against Ye to 11 wins
against six defeats.
The men's doubles final will be pit two Indonesia's best
teams. Top seeds Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky beat their
juniors Antonius Irianto and Deny Kantono 15-10, 15-11 to meet
second seeds Gunawan and Bambang Suprianto, 15-4, 15-10 winners
over teammates Tony Gunawan and Rudy Wijaya.