Denmark’s Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen, the 2014 European Champions, moved into their third China Open (700.000 Dollar) final by defeating Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin of China in two straight games 21-16, 21-19 on Saturday. 

The Danes will seek their first China Open title after they’ve lost on two final occasions in 2013 and 2011.  However, a rough road lays ahead for the Danes, with world number one Zhang/Zhao waiting to meet them on Sunday.

”We have reached our highest level since a couple of months – and we are proud that we are able to keep this level. Tomorrow will be a new match again. The world's best pair is waiting for us. It’ll be a big challenge for us to play them here in China. But right now we are very happy with our semi-final victory and we will see if can hit our top level again”, said Joachim Fischer to Badminton Denmark.

In the other semi-final, Chinese top seeds Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei proved too good for their third-seeded compatriots Xu Chen-/Ma Jin, winning 21-19, 21-11 in 43 minutes.

Positive record for the Danes

Both couples met 18 times since 2010, with Fischer/Pedersen winning on 10 occasions. Among the Dane’s 10 wins, eight were at tournaments on the Asian continent. And Fischer/Pedersen won the last four matches.



In the women’s singles, world number one Saina Nehwal cruised past China's Wang Yihan 21-13, 21-18. The top-ranked shuttler from India is set to face off with Wang's fellow countryman and world number six Li Xuerui.

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei battled to a tight victory over long-time rival Lin Dan in a three-game China Open semi-final showdown in Fuzhou. The former world number one will face world champion Chen Long in Sunday’s final.

Click here for all results from China.

Article by Manuel Rösler. Photos (LIVE) by BadmintonPhoto.