Taiwanese badminton ace Tai Tzu-ying was well beaten in the women’s singles final at the Perodua Malaysia Masters yesterday.
Tai, the No. 2 women’s singles player in the world, was overpowered by China’s Chen Yufei 17-21, 10-21 in a match that last only 37 minutes.
As a result, Tai failed to reclaim the world No. 1 spot she lost to Chen last year.
Photo: AP
In the first game, Tai took an early 8-5 lead, but Chen scored four consecutive points to seize the lead.
Chen grew in confidence in the second game, racing to an 11-6 lead, with Tai unable to get back into the match.
Tai praised Chen’s strong strokes, but said that she had made too many mistakes to win the match.
Tai and Chen had played each other 16 times prior to yesterday’s match, with Tai leading 14-2.
Tai lost to her Chinese opponent in the final of the women’s singles at the All England Open Championships in March last year and at the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals in China last year.
In the men’s final, Kento Momota of Japan defeated Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen 24-22, 21-11.
In the women’s doubles, Li Wenmei and Zheng Yu of China beat compatriots Du Yue and Li Yinhui 21-19, 16-21, 21-19, while South Korea’s Kim Gi-jung and Lee Yong-dae won the men’s doubles 21-14, 21-16 against Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen of China.
In the mixed doubles, Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong of China beat compatriots Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping 21-19, 21-12.
The Malaysia Masters is the first big badminton tournament of the year.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS