New York: Former world No. 1 men’s singles shuttler, Datuk Lee Chong Wei finally claimed his first Open tournament title in slightly over a year on Sunday.
Lee Chong Wei obviously had not lost any of his amazing shots despite an eight-month absence from competition by beating Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark 22-20, 21-12 to win the US Open title. But getting the better of Vittinghus in the men’s singles final was no easy task. The Dane was in imperious form as he broke Lee Chong Wei’s rhythm several times in the first set, taking control with some searing smashes and several impressive defensive plays to lead at 19-16, 20-19, before Lee Chong Wei clawed back the deficit to level score at 19-19, 20-20, and to take the first set.
Lee Chong Wei appeared to have the bulk of the crowd’s support from the very beginning of the second set. He had answers for everything the Danish player had to throw at him, as the Malaysian played solid with the right intensity throughout the whole game, posted a straight-set victory over Hans-Kristian Vittinghus to lift the US Open title in 39 minutes.
Top seed Nozomi Okuhara won the US Open women’s singles title after beating compatriot Sayaka Sato in straight sets 21-16, 21-14.
Reining Australian Open mixed doubles champions Reginald Lee Chun Hei/Chau Hoi Wah of Hong Kong were looking uncomfortable, then a bit surprised when Huang Kaixiang/Huang Dongping of China were playing with faster speed, especially when Huang Kaixiang kept unleashing his powerful smashes to score points. The Chinese pair was able to edge past the Hong Kong duo 21-15, 21-14 to claim the mixed doubles title.
Meanwhile, Yu Yang (F)/Zhong Qianxin of China outlasted Ayane Kurihara/Naru Shinoya of Japan 21-14, 21-10 to win the US Open women’s doubles title; while Li Junhui/ Liu Yuchen of China emerged the winners after a 21-12 21-16 victory against Manu Attri/ B. Sumeeth Reddy of India in the men’s doubles final.
