Chinese Taipei’s Tzu Ying Tai was the focal point of the 2018 Chinese Taipei Open, performing in front of an adoring home crowd. But while she whipped through the rounds of the women’s Singles, winning eight of nine sets on the way to the final, the world’s no. 1 player appeared ready to take her third title with ease.
Then she lost the first set to Denmark’s Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt, 17-21, and had to rally. She came back in the second set for a 21-10 win and then grabbed the championship with a 21-13 win in the third set. Not only did the home crowd breathe a sign of relief, Tai also become the first woman in the history of the BWF World Tour to claim career winnings of more than $1 million at $1,025,205. The tournament win was worth $37,500.
Chinese Taipei also claimed a popular win in the men’s Doubles event with Hung Ling Chen and Chi-Lin Wang defeating countrymen Min Chun Liao and Ching Heng Su, 22-20, 21-9 in the final, defending their title from last year.
Malaysia’s Zii Jia Lee won the men’s Singles, the first winner in that event from Malaysia since 1986! The women’s Doubles victory by Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida was the first from Japan since 1991. Summaries:
BWF World Tour/Chinese Taipei Open
Taipei City (TPE) ~ 2-7 October 2018
(Full results here)
Men’s Singles: 1. Zii Jia Lee (MAS); 2. Riichi Takeshita (JPN); 3. Jan O. Jorgensen (DEN) and Tien Chen Chou (TPE). Semis: Takeshita d. Jorgensen, 21-17, 16-21, 26-24; Lee d. Chou, 17-21, 21-14, 24-22. Final: Lee d. Takeshita, 21-17, 16-21, 21-11.
Men’s Doubles: 1. Hung Ling Chen/Chi-Lin Wang (TPE); 2. Min Chun Liao/Ching Heng Su (TPE); 3. Bodin Isara/Maneepong Jongjit (THA) and Ching Yao Lu/Po Han Yang (TPE). Semis: Chen/Wang d. Isara/Jongjit, 21-16, 21-10; Liao/Su d. Lu/Yang, 24-22, 21.14. Final: Chen/Wang d. Liao/Su, 22-20, 21-9.
Women’s Singles: 1. Tzu Ying Tai (TPE); 2. Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt (DEN); 3. Pui Yin Yip (HKG) and Soniia Cheah (MAS). Semis: Kjaersfeldt d. Yip, 21-14, 21-19; Tai d. Cheah, 21-16, 21-19. Final: Tai d. Kjaersfeldt, 17-21, 21-10, 21-13.
Women’s Doubles: 1. Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida (JPN); 2. Ayane Kurihara/Naru Shinoya (JPN); 3. Akayo Sakuramoto/Yukiko Takahata (JPN) and Naoko Fukuman/Kurumi Yonao (JPN). Semis: Matsuyama/Shida d. Sakuramoto/Takahata, 21-15, 21-12; Kurihara/Shinoya d. Fukuman/ Yonao, 21-16, 21-19. Final: Matsuyama/Shida d. Kurihara/Shinoya, 21-10, 21-17.
Mixed Doubles: 1. Alfian Eko Prasetya/ Marsheilla Gischa Islami (INA); 2. Po-Hsuan Yang/Ti Jung Wu (TPE); 3. Ronald Ronald/Annisa Saufika (INA) and Tang Jie Chen/Yen Wei Peck (MAS). Semis: Prasetya/Islami d. Ronald/Saufika, 21-16, 21-16; Yang/Wu d. Chen/Peck, 12-21, 21-18, 21-12. Final: Prasetya/Islami d. Yang/Wu, 21-15, 21-11.
