Hong Kong: Taiwan’s World No. 3 women’s singles player Tai Tzu-Ying showed off her remarkable overheads and slicing drop shots along with precise servings to overpower World No. 1 Carolina Marin of Spain 21-17, 14-21, 21-16 in 68 minutes on Saturday to make the Hong Kong Open final.
The two top women’s singles players have been neck-and-neck on every shots in the first set before the defending Hong Kong Open champion Tai Tzu-Ying seized her momentum to close out the first set. Although Marin attempted a comeback by winning the second set, but Tai who was backed by the Hong Kong crowd was in total control in the decider to overcome the Spaniard in the grueling three-set encounter. Tai also knocked out Marin in the quarter-finals of China Open that was held in Fuzhou last week.
“I’m disappointed with my performance today, it has been a long season and I am very tired,” said Marin who won the Olympic gold but has not yet able to win a Superseries title in 2016.
Meanwhile, Tai was very upbeat after her victory.
“Thanks to the crowd for their support,” said Tai.
“They would shout for every point I scored. I was really motivated by their support,” added Tai.
Tai will clash with P.V Sindhu of India for her second Superseries title of the year, after winning the Indonesia Open in June.
P.V Sindhu who won the Rio Olympics silver medal defeated Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong 21-14, 21-16 to reach her third Super Series final.
In an all-Indonesian final, Olympic champions No. 7 seeds Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir will meet No. 2 seeds Praveen Jordan/Debby Susanto for the mixed doubles title, while women’s doubles No. 3 seeds Kamilla Rytter Juhl/Christinna Pedersen of Denmark will square off against unseeded Huang Dongping/Li Yinhui of China on Sunday’s final.
