Orleans Masters 2023 badminton: Carolina Marin beats Beiwen Zhang to claim first title of the year
Marin won 13 points in a row having trailed 10-8 in the decider to take victory in France after India's Priyanshu Rajawat claimed his first BWF World Tour title.
Badminton
Carolina Marin has her first title of 2023 after beating Beiwen Zhang at the BWF World Tour Super 300 Orleans Masters in France on Sunday (9 April).
The Rio 2016 Olympic badminton champion went into a 15-8 lead in the opening game, but her American opponent fought back to level at 18-18.
The top seed was the first to bring up game point, but Zhang saved it before squandering two of her own. Marin wasted two more before finally closing it out 25-23.
Zhang carried forward her improvement into the second as Marin's level dropped significantly.
Showing her trademark athleticism in defence, the Las Vegas-based player raced into a 14-1 lead before setting up a decider.
The sixth seed nosed into a 10-8 advantage, but a fired-up Marin came roaring back as Zhang faded.
Spain's former world champion did not lose another point, taking 13 in succession to complete a 25-23, 9-21, 21-10 victory in 65 minutes.
It was Marin's first triumph of the year having been beaten in the final of the January's Indonesia Masters and last weekend's semi-finals in Madrid.
Rajawat battles to first tour title
In the men's singles, Priyanshu Rajawat claimed his first BWF World Tour title by beating Magnus Johannesen 21-15, 19-21, 21-16.
Rajawat looked set for a quick victory when he led 17-15 in the second after taking the opener. But vital errors allowed Johannesen to win the next five points before the Dane took his third game point opportunity to level the match.
The decider became a war of attrition with the week's exertions taking its toll on both men.
Rajawat raced into a 6-1 lead, but the left-hander pulled off some inspired defence to level at 9-9.
That prompted a revival from the Indian who won five consecutive points either side of the mid-game changeover to take a grip on this entertaining final. This time, Johannesen was unable to come back with Rajawat finally converting his fourth championship point in an hour and eight minutes.
Earlier, seventh seeds Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia took the mixed doubles title with victory in straight games over Chinese Taipei's Ye Hong Wei and Lee Chia Hsin.
In the women's doubles, Japan's sixth seeds Miyaura Rena and Sakuramoto Ayako defeated Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning of People's Republic of China 21-12 in the third.
China did claim a title in Orleans as Chen Boyang and Liu Yi scored their first Super 300 men's doubles triumph, beating Indonesia's third seeds Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana in straight games.
Results from finals at Orleans Masters 2023, Sunday 9 April:
Mixed Doubles: Ye Hong Wei/Lee Chia Hsin (TPE) lost to [7] Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei (MAS) 19-21, 17-21.
Men's Singles: Priyanshu Rajawat (IND) def. Magnus Johannesen (DEN) 21-15, 19-21, 21-16.
Women's Doubles: Liu Shengshu/Tan Ning (CHN) lost to [6] Miyaura Rena/Sakuramoto Ayako (JPN) 19-21, 21-16, 12-21.
Men's Doubles: Chen Boyang/Liu Yi (CHN) def. [3] Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana (INA) 21-19, 21-17.
Women's Singles: [1] Carolina Marin (ESP) def. [6] Beiwen Zhang (USA) 25-23, 9-21, 21-10.