German Open 2022: Lee Zii Jia stunned by 20-year-old Thai Kunlavut Vitidsarn in semi-final
Three-time world junior champ Vitidsarn dismissed Lee in straight games to set up a final clash with Lakshya Sen who won a thriller win against Olympic gold medallist Viktor Axelsen.
Badminton
It was a day of upsets at badminton's 2022 German Open in Mülheim on Saturday (12 March).
Unseeded Kunlavut Vitidsarn shocked Lee Zii Jia in the first men's singles semi-final before Lakshya Sen came back from 16-9 down in the decider to beat over Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen.
Reigning All-England Open champion Lee was favourite for many to make the final but a fine all-round display saw Vitidsarn claim a 21-13, 21-12 victory in less than 55 minutes.
The Thai shuttler, who's ranked No.20 in the world right now, proved that his star is on the rise as Malaysia's world number seven had no answer to his energy and movement around the court.
Thailand's young gun was quicker at the net and made far fewer unforced errors while Lee dropped shot after shot into the net, shaking his head in frustration.
When Vitidsarn led 17-12 in the first set there was no way back for Lee, and the second was even more convincing as the Thai shuttler raced to match point at 20-10.
Flashes of Zii Jia's brilliance were there to see, like the backhand smash to make it 20-11, then another lovely jumping smash for 20-12 but it was too little too late.
Vitidsarn, a three-time junior world champion, took out Indonesia's Jonatan Christie and Japanese shuttler Nishimoto Kenta on his way to the semi-final.
He showed no signs of fatigue after a gruelling three-setter against Nishimoto a day earlier as he made it three wins out of six over Lee who defends his All-England title next week in Birmingham.
Lakshya Sen battles back to knock out Olympic champion
Vitidsarn now faces Lakshya Sen who won an enthralling encounter against Viktor Axelsen.
The two know each other well with Lakshya a regular visitor to Axelsen's famed Dubai training camp.
And Axelsen was perhaps left wishing he had not invited the Indian as Lakshya raced into an 8-4 lead which became 9-4 when Axelsen broke a string mid-rally and netted what should have been a routine overhead.
The Dane was just missing the lines with Lakshya cleverly moving the Olympic champion around the court and showing fine reflexes in defence.
Axelsen was unable to gain a foothold in the first game with last year's World Championship bronze medallist taking it 21-13.
Lakshya looked set for victory when he went 8-3 up in the second game, but Axelsen roared back by taking the next seven points in succession before hitting a serve long.
The next point saw a superb rally with the 20-year-old somehow returning a powerful smash before Axelsen put away the backhand at the net.
That sent Axelsen into the interval 11-9 ahead, and he poured it on after the break to win the game 21-12 and level the match.
The decider saw both players raise their level and Axelsen won another exceptional rally to go 5-4 in front. Lakshya was producing some miraculous defence but, more often than not, it was Axelsen who came up with the winners.
Axelsen led 11-8 at the break and, just as he did in the second game, accelerated clear with the match looking settled as he went 16-9 up.
But there was a final twist in the tale as Lakshya showed great resilience to level the scores at 19-19 before setting up match point.
Axelsen saved the first, but went just wide on the second as Lakshya won 13-21, 21-12, 22-20 for his first triumph over the world number one in five attempts, and his second consecutive final after his victory in January's India Open.
Chen Yu Fei and He Bingjiao through to all-Chinese women's singles final
Olympic women's champion Chen Yu Fei did make it through to finals day in Mülheim.
Third seed Chen trailed fellow Chinese Zhang Yiman 12-9 in the opening game, but took 12 of the next 13 points to take it 21-13.
World Championship bronze medallist Zhang took a close second 21-19 and led 8-2 in the decider.
But Chen dominated after that, eventually coming through 21-13, 19-21, 21-13.
He Bingjiao ensured it would be an all-Chinese women's singles after sweeping aside An Seyoung.
The 24-year-old started strongly, opening up a 14-4 advantage before her Korean opponent staged something of a recovery.
It came too late to save the first game which went to He 21-12, but the fourth seed started to gain control of the rallies and took an 11-9 lead in game two.
However, the left-hander soon regained the initiative with some fine net play to win 21-12, 21-15 and set up a rematch of the Olympic semi-final which Chen won on the way to taking gold.