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.