Semifinal day at the China Masters threw up a big surprise in the men’s singles and a thrilling 81-minute all-Danish battle for fans to enjoy.
In Shenzhen, players have been adapting to the lopsided conditions in the hall and today, Anders Antonsen, the Denmark Open champion from last month, was looking to flex his tactical skills against fellow countryman and Olympic Champion, Viktor Axelsen.
Since his win in Hong Kong, Axelsen has struggled to impose his dominance in China, Denmark, Japan and now returning to China.
The tall Dane seemed to find his feet in the business-end of the opening game today, winning eight of the last 11 points. However, the second game completely collapsed after the break with Axelsen winning just a single point, allowing Antonsen to shoot away to 21.
The momentum was with Antonsen in the decider, managing to take an 11-5 lead playing on technically the ‘worse side’ where both players were making errors when lifting to the back. Axelsen then began clawing his way back with more of an all-out attacking game, sensationally saving four match points despite his visible tiredness.
At 20-20, Antonsen somehow was able to dig deep and play two terrific points to score his first victory over Axelsen since 2020. He will now face Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie in the final who managed to defeat a strongly supported Shi Yu Qi in two games. Christie leads the head-to-head 6-3.
Chinese title hopes alive
China have excelled at winning titles in this home tournament. Since the first edition in 2005, they have been crowned champions 77 per cent of the time. A continuation of this trend was given a boost today when Feng Yan Zhe/ Huang Dong Ping secured a spot in the final following a 21-18, 21-13 win over Chen Tang Jie/ Toh Ee Wei.
Huang knows what it takes after winning the title here with Wang Yil Yu in 2017 and 2019. They face another Malaysian pair in the final, the surprise package in Hoo Pang Ron/ Cheng Su Yin. The pressure is on as the China Masters mixed doubles title as never not been won by a Chinese pair.
In the women’s singles, the up-and-coming unseeded Gao Fang Jie is hoping to join the list of big names of Chinese women’s singles winning the title in recent years; He Bing Jiao, Li Xue Rui and Chen Yu Fei.
However, the Olympic champion and seemingly superhuman An Se Young will have a strong say in tomorrow’s final. It will be the Korean’s fifth tournament final in-a-row.
In the women’s doubles, China has a guaranteed title with champions from last week in Kumamoto, Liu Sheng Shu/ Tan Ning, facing off against Li Yi Jing/ Luo Xu Min. Both pairs defeated the top two Japanese pairs in the semifinals.
Making a name in men’s doubles
The title will be going to either Indonesia or Korea tomorrow. Two pairs who are making a name of themselves in the category will do battle.
The Indonesia team underwent a bit of a reshuffle of pairs post-Olympics. Alfian/ Ardianto, title winners at the Kumamoto Masters last week, are still leading the way. However, this week’s assured performances from Sabar Karyaman Gutama/ Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani have attracted positive reviews of them as a pair, which includes two wins against China’s top two pairs backed by enthusiastic home support.
They will play Korea’s new look partnership of Seo Seung Jae/ Jin Yong. The two left-handers have looked like a match made in heaven since their debut tournament in Japan last week and today they elegantly found a way past former world number ones, Chirag Shetty/ Satwiksairaj Rankireddy 21-18, 14-21, 21-16.