Sydney: Lee Zii Jia, remains cautious of the threat posed by rising Taiwanese player Lee Chia Hao as they prepare to face off in the Australian Open semifinals on Saturday.
Highlights of Lee Zii Jia vs. Kenta Nishimoto in the 2024 Australian Open quarterfinals:
On Friday, the World No. 8 player came back from a first-set loss to defeat Japan’s World No. 11 Kenta Nishimoto 16-21, 21-12, 21-12 in the quarterfinals at Sydney Olympic Park.
The World No. 37 Lee Chia Hao advanced after upsetting his senior, World No. 13 Chou Tien Chen, 22-20, 22-20 in another quarterfinal match.
The last encounter between Lee Zii Jia and Lee Chia Hao saw the latter win in a three-set battle at the Hong Kong Open in September last year.
“I have played against Chia Hao several times before. He just created a surprise by defeating Tien Chen, his senior,” said Lee Zii Jia.
“Of course, he is currently in top form and highly motivated. So, I need to be extra cautious.”
“I expect it to be a tough match tomorrow,” added Lee Zii Jia.
Zii Jia’s victory over Nishimoto marked his third consecutive win against the Japanese, following two previous wins in the Thomas Cup in May and the Badminton Asia Team Championships in May.
The 2021 All-England champion is now just one step away from reaching his third final of the season after winning the Thailand Open and finishing as the runner-up at the Malaysia Masters last month.
“I was physically and mentally prepared for a deciding set against Nishimoto because I expected it to be a tough match.”
“We have faced each other several times, so we know each other’s playing styles well,” explained Lee.
In men’s doubles, Malaysia’s World No. 26 Muhammad Haikal/Choong Hon Jian, recorded the biggest achievement of their careers by securing a spot in the semifinals of the Australian Open.
The success came after Haikal/Choong defeated the home duo, Rizky Hidayat/Frengky Wijaya Putra, 21-16, 18-21, 21-12 in the quarterfinals.
This is the first time Haikal/Choong have reached the top four in a BWF Super 500 World Tour tournament.
Their previous best achievement in a similar level tournament was reaching the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open.
However, Haikal-Hon Jian will face a tough test in their mission to reach the final as they are scheduled to meet the top seeds from China, He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu, in the semifinals tomorrow.
He/Ren advanced after easily overcoming the young Malaysian pair, Aaron Tai/Khang Khai Xing, 21-14, 21-12.
Meanwhile, the World No. 19 mixed pair Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing, also advanced to the semifinals after defeating compatriots Choong Hon Jian/Go Pei Kee 21-15, 23-21.
They will face the world number five pair from China, Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin, for a spot in the final.
Lai Pei Jing, who paired with Lim Chiew Sin in the women’s doubles, also advanced to the semifinals after defeating Polina Buhrova/Yevheniia Kantemyr from Ukraine 21-17, 21-19 and will face Hong Kong’s Yeung Nga Ting/Yeung Pui Lam.
