Denmark's Viktor Axelsen hits a return during the men's singles group B match against China's Chen Long at the BWF World Tour Finals 2019 in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
Two-time defending champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark suffered second defeat at BWF World Tour Finals to Chou Tienchen of Chinese Taipei. Anthony Ginting of Indonesia stunned Olympic champion Chen Long of China.
GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, champion of the season final in 2016 and 2017, fell to his second defeat in the men's singles Group B at the BWF World Tour Finals 2019 here on Wednesday.
Axelsen lost to China's Chen Long 21-17, 10-21, 21-17 in the opening match, and he suffered a similar fate against Chinese Taipei's Chou Tienchen 12-21, 21-12, 21-15, leaving him with only a mathematical chance of progressing to the semifinals..
Chen Long failed to find the rhythm in the match against Anthony Ginting. It was touch-and-go all the way as the Indonesian eased past the home favourite 21-12, 21-11 in another match of Group B.
"Ginting is very fast on the court. His style is aggressive," said Chen. Chen's comment was echoed by Ginting. "I have a good record (7-4) against Chen Long. Maybe it's my style. I have an attacking style and I suppose he might not be comfortable with my game."
Chen Long of China hits a return during the men's singles group B match against Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia at the BWF World Tour Finals 2019 in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
In the men's singles Group A, Japan's Kento Momota was stretched by Aners Antonsen of Denmark but eventually clinched it 19-21, 21-15, 21-15. The 83-minute match was the last one on Thursday, which didn't finish until early morning on Friday.
Wang Tzuwei of Chinese Taipei had little trouble against Jonatan Christie 21-12, 21-17.
Tai Tzuying of Chinese Taipei, champion in 2014 and 2016, claimed a hard-fought victory over Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon, 11-21, 21-18, 21-16 in a Group B match in the women's singles.
Tai and Intanon both had one match won after second round, while Japan's Nozomi Okuhara progressed from Group B to the semifinals after claiming second win over Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand 21-12, 21-10.
Nozomi Okuhara of Japan celebrates after winning the women's singles group B match against Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand at the BWF World Tour Finals 2019 in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Dec. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Chen)
The semifinalists from the women's singles Group A were decided, with Chen Yufei of China and Akane Yamaguchi of Japan completing their second wins. Chen held off Pusarla V. Sindhu 20-22, 21-16 and 21-12, while Yamaguchi defeated He Bingjiao of China 25-27, 21-10, 21-13.
World champions Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong, who had suffered a straight-game setback in their first mixed doubles Group B match, proved themselves in a difficult test against Hafiz Faizal/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja 21-15, 20-22, 21-17.
Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino of Japan, winner over Zheng/Huang, claimed their second win, overcoming the inconsistent Praveen Jordan/Melati Daeva Oktavianti of Indonesia 21-15, 18-21, 21-15. ■
