After defeat in the 1. game Lee Chong Wei played much faster in the last 2 and won the semifinal against Du Pengyu
Expectations were high before the match between world no. 1 and 3 in the men’s singles semifinal at Yonex Denmark Open. Especially in the 1. game they were answered by Lee Chong Wei and Du Pengyu, but after Chinese victory in a close opening game Lee Chong Wei showed why he is world no. 1.
Close in the opening game
Lee Chong Wei had a good start of the game. The world no. 1 gained the lead and was ahead by 7-3 and 9-6, but Du Pengyu came back into the game. The 3. seeded Chinese took 4 points in a row and the lead by 10-9. The rest of the game was very close, but Du Pengyu was most of the time in front by 1 or 2 points. Pengyu missed his 1. game point, but in his 2. attempt he took the opening game by 22-20.
Couldn’t withstand Malaysian speed
Like he did in his game against Jan Ø. Jørgensen Friday, Lee Chong Wei played much faster in the second game. Pengyu was not even close to catch the Malaysian world no. 1 in a game which Lee Chong Wei won by impressive 21-6.
In the last game Lee Chong Wei continued. Du Pengyu seemed tired and like it was in the 2. game the Chinese didn’t have a chance against the Malaysian’s speed. Pengyu played better than in the previous game, but Lee Chong Wei was far too strong and booked a seat in the final through a 21-15 victory.
“Du Pengyu played really well in the 1. game. I did my best but he just played better than me. In the 2. game I knew that he would give up if I managed to get a lot of points from the beginning, so I put more speed into my play,” Lee Chong Wei says.
Tomorrow he will face 2. seeded Chen Long from China in the final.
“I always meet Chinese players in the finals. He has been playing well during this tournament, but I will do my best,” the Malaysian star says.
See more results from the semifinals here