It was a long and very intense match when Wang Yihan knocked out the world champion, Intanon Ratchinok, in the semifinal of Yonex Denmark Open
 
The world champion in women’s singles, Thai Intanon Ratchanok, faced Chinese Wang Yihan in her semifinal Saturday at Yonex Denmark Open. The match was extremely close, but after 3 tight games it was Wang Yihan who knocked out the young Thai.
 
Ratchanok looked like a winner
Ratchanok took the lead 14-10 in the 1. game, but Yihan came back at 14-14. The 5th seeded Chinese had 2 gamepoints at 20-19 and 21-20 but didn’t manage to win any of them. And then Ratchanok won the set in her first attempt.
 
Chinese comeback
When Ratchinok got the lead by 13-6 in second the second game it looked like she was almost in the final. But Yihan showed that she wasn’t ready to leave the tournament. The Chinese quickly closed the big gap and won the game 21-19.
 
Again in the third set it was close. At 16-16 it was impossible to say who was going to win. Both players were tired after the tough match, but at the end it was Wang Yihan who had most energy left. The winner from 2010 took 3 points in a row from 18-17, and after the last rally a happy Wang Yihan screaming her last energy out of the body.
 
“I love the crowd here”
After the match it was a very happy Wang Yihan evaluating the match.
 
“I was lacking behind in big parts of the match but every time I managed to come back. I kept believing in the second game even though Ratchanok had a big lead,” Wang Yihan says and continues.
 
“Playing here in Odense is very special for me. I have good memories from this tournament and I love the crowd here, that was why I showed so many emotions after the match” she says.
 
Intanon Ratchanok was naturally not quite as happy as her opponent.
 
“I wasn’t that confident today because I haven’t trained so much because of my injury. But overall I’m satisfied with this tournament,” she says.
 
Hyun destroyed Chinese party
In Friday’s quarterfinals Sung Ji Hyun knocked out the defending champion at Yonex Denmark Open, Indian star Saina Nehwal. Saturday afternoon the Korean surprise was facing Chinese Wang Shixian in a fight for a spot in the final.
 
Shixian started the match best and took the lead 14-10, but Hyun didn’t give up. The Korean fought back and at 17-17 it was as close as it could be. In the end of the game it was Hyun who played best and she took the game by 21-19.
 
In the second game Hyun dominated like she did end the end of the 1. game. From 12-11 she took 6 points in a row and got the lead by 18-11. Shixian couldn’t make an answer and then Hyun won the set 21-14. She’s now ready for her first Super Series final since she won Korean Open in the beginning of the year.