Giant-killer Zwiebler falls to Lin in Birmingham last four
Source: Agencies |
March 13, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FOUR-TIME winner Lin Dan of China ended the brave run of Germany's Marc Zwiebler with a 21-9, 16-21, 21-11 victory in the All England Championships semifinals in Birmingham yesterday.
Zwiebler's victims on his march to the last four included world champion Chen Jin of China but Olympic gold medalist Lin proved a bridge too far.
The Chinese was at his best in the first game with a classic mix of power and guile but the German fought back in the second only for Lin to regain control early in the decider and go on to clinch a place in the final for a seventh time.
Zwiebler, 27 today, was generous in defeat, telling reporters after his career-best run: "It's been a very great week for me. No excuses. He was the better player today but maybe next time I can win another game or two."
The German then headed for the airport to fly out for a holiday in Italy, twice postponed this week as he progressed in the tournament further than he had ever anticipated.
"I am looking forward to having some time to take a rest and realize what I've achieved this week."
In today's final, Lin will meet either world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia or compatriot Chen Long, the fifth seed.
On Friday, Zwiebler beat Japan's Kazushi Yamada 21-18, 17-21, 21-15. Yamada had made his own piece of badminton history in the first round with a shock win over former Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.
It was a difficult day for Yamada and the whole of the Japanese team, who decided to continue in the tournament despite the devastating earthquake and tsunami back home.
Unseeded women's doubles pair of Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa made it to the semis as did unseeded women's singles player Eriko Hirose, who beat fifth seed Saina Nehwal of India, but it was not to be for Yamada, ranked 28th in the world.
"The team wanted to play and bring some good news for Japan," he said. "I tried my best but Zwiebler was very confident after beating the world champion."
Women's top seed Wang Shixian of China edged German seventh-seed Juliane Schenk 17-21, 21-17, 21-11 while compatriot and third seed Wang Xin beat another Chinese Jiang Yanjiao, 21-12, 21-15.
Zwiebler's victims on his march to the last four included world champion Chen Jin of China but Olympic gold medalist Lin proved a bridge too far.
The Chinese was at his best in the first game with a classic mix of power and guile but the German fought back in the second only for Lin to regain control early in the decider and go on to clinch a place in the final for a seventh time.
Zwiebler, 27 today, was generous in defeat, telling reporters after his career-best run: "It's been a very great week for me. No excuses. He was the better player today but maybe next time I can win another game or two."
The German then headed for the airport to fly out for a holiday in Italy, twice postponed this week as he progressed in the tournament further than he had ever anticipated.
"I am looking forward to having some time to take a rest and realize what I've achieved this week."
In today's final, Lin will meet either world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia or compatriot Chen Long, the fifth seed.
On Friday, Zwiebler beat Japan's Kazushi Yamada 21-18, 17-21, 21-15. Yamada had made his own piece of badminton history in the first round with a shock win over former Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.
It was a difficult day for Yamada and the whole of the Japanese team, who decided to continue in the tournament despite the devastating earthquake and tsunami back home.
Unseeded women's doubles pair of Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa made it to the semis as did unseeded women's singles player Eriko Hirose, who beat fifth seed Saina Nehwal of India, but it was not to be for Yamada, ranked 28th in the world.
"The team wanted to play and bring some good news for Japan," he said. "I tried my best but Zwiebler was very confident after beating the world champion."
Women's top seed Wang Shixian of China edged German seventh-seed Juliane Schenk 17-21, 21-17, 21-11 while compatriot and third seed Wang Xin beat another Chinese Jiang Yanjiao, 21-12, 21-15.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
