Taiwanese badminton ace Tai Tzu-ying on Friday was knocked out in the women’s singles quarter-finals at her last Taipei Open.
The world No. 3 lost 21-18, 16-21, 22-24 to Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia in a match that stretched 68 minutes at the Taipei Arena.
Despite her higher ranking, Tai said she was not too sad about the loss, given her struggle with a lingering knee injury.
Photo: CNA
“Wins and losses are just part of the game. Actually, I think I’m going to lose every single match considering my condition now,” said the five-time champion of the Super 300 event, who has announced plans to retire at the end of this season.
Friday’s match marked the end of her last professional tournament at home. Nearly 8,000 people were at the stadium to cheer for the surprised 30-year-old.
“It’s a weekday after all, but I’m really glad that so many people came to watch the matches,” Tai said, adding that she hoped more people would cheer on the players on the final two days of the tournament.
Photo: CNA
Wardani yesterday defeated Taiwan’s Chiu Pin-chian 16-21, 21-16, 21-11 to reach the final against South Korea’s Sim Yu-jin.
In other games yesterday, Chi Yu-jen stunned Chou Tien-chen with a 19-21, 21-11, 21-17 upset in their men’s singles semi-final, ending the world No. 2’s pursuit of a fifth Taipei title.
In the final today, Chi faces Lin Chun-yi, who beat fellow Taiwanese Lee Chia-hao 21-12, 21-19.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan’s Ye Hong-wei and Lee Chia-hsin had a disappointing end to their tournament after an injury forced them out of their mixed doubles semi-final against Thai pair Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Phataimas Muenwong.
On Friday, Ye and Lee Chia-hsin had edged one step closer to their first championship of the year with a 21-19, 21-14 victory over compatriots Lin Bing-wei and Lin Chih-chun.
However, Lee Chia-hsin sustained an ankle sprain shortly after their semi-final began yesterday. She played out the first game, which the Taiwanese pair lost 21-19, but was forced to withdraw before the start of the second.
Photo: CNA
“I did not expect it to end like this,” she said afterward.
“I hope it gets better quickly,” she said, adding that she hopes to compete in Hong Kong next week and in China from Sept. 17.
Teeraratsakul and Muenwong face Yang Po-hsuan and Hu Ling-fang in today’s final after the Taiwanese pair ousted compatriots Lai Po-yu and Lin Xiao-min 21-7, 21-17.
In the men’s doubles, Taiwan’s Chiang Chien-wei and Wu Hsuan-yi defeated fellow Taiwanese Liu Kuang-heng and Yang Po-han 21-17, 21-19 to set up a final against Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan of Taiwan, who eliminated French pair Eloi Adam and Leo Rossi 21-10, 21-11.
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