Denmark’s Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen, the world no 5 pair, remained on course for their 14th Superseries title by quelling the challenge of Japanese shuttlers Kenta Kazuno and Ayane Kurihara 21-13, 21-19 to reach the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Open on Thursday.
In the quarter-final of the 600.000 Dollars tournament, Fischer and Pedersen are taking on China’s Zhang Nan/Li Yinhui, the world number 10 pair.
Carolina Marin will now take on Ratchanok Intanon
Olympic champion Carolina Marin also advanced to the next round in straight games as the Spaniard saw off Thailand’s Nitchaon Jindapol 21-14, 21-18. Marin, the number two seed in Malaysia, will play former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand for a place in the semi-finals. In the overall head-to-head, the Thai play leads 5-1.
Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen reached the last four of the Malaysia Open with a convincing 21-17, 21-13 win over Della Destiara Haris/Rosyita Eka Putri Sari of Indonesia. The Danish duo, who won the prestigious tournament in 2012, now face Chang Ye Na and Lee So Hee. The Korean number 5 seeds beat Bulgaria’s Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva in the last 16 stage 21-9, 21-9.
Ajay Jayaram stuns Viktor Axelsen
Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram produced a surprise in Kuching as he bounced back from a game down against world number two shuttler Viktor Axelsen to book his place in the quarter-finals. Axelsen, who won last week’s India Open Superseries, lost 21-9, 14-21, 19-21 after 44 minutes of play.
Hopes of Chris and Gabby Adcock came to an end
Chris and Gabby Adcock’s hopes of winning the Malaysia Open title came to an end after missing out in the second round to Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
The Thai pair have been on a steady rise up the rankings in recent months, and that improvement showed out on court as they prevailed 21-16 21-15 in 34 minutes.
The Adcocks had started well in the first game, 8-5 up in the early stages as they looked to make the most of their seventh seed status. But Puavaranukroh and Taerattanachai upped their game from there, showing the form that saw them take Yonex Swiss Open mixed doubles glory just last month.
Four consecutive points saw them take the lead after a close opening, with the Adcocks unable to wrestle back the advantage as they missed out on the first game in Malaysia.
They were to fall behind in the second game too, 5-1 in the early stages, and while they got back within a point, couldn’t overhaul the three game deficit needed to keep themselves in the contest.
Malaysia Open quarter-finals with European interest:
WD: Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (DEN) - Chang Ye Na and Lee So Hee (KOR)
WS: Carolina Marin (ESP) - Ratchanok Intanon (THA)
XD: Joachim Fischer/Christinna Pedersen (DEN) - Zhang Nan/Li Yinhui (CHN)
Recent Malaysia Open champions from Europe:
2015 - Carolina Marin
2013 - Joachim Fischer/Christinna Pedersen
2012 - Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl
2009 - Tine Baun
2008 - Tine Baun
2007 - Peter Gade
2002 - Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms
Click HERE for all results of the Malaysia Open Superseries 2017.
Article by Manuel Rösler. Photo by BadmintonPhoto.