China’s Xiao Jia Chen powers her way into Women’s Singles final of the Russian Open Grand Prix 2011
China’s Xiao Jia Chen powered her way into the Women’s Singles final after taming Japan’s Ai Goto, in the semi-final of the Russian Open Grand Prix 2011, in Russia, on Saturday, July 2.
Jia Chen kept her hopes of winning the Women’s Singles crown in the Russian Open alive, as she has proved her worth against Ai Goto, who was the second seed in the event. The Chinese shuttler beat Goto in straight-sets of 29 minutes, with a remarkable margin
of 21-10 and 21-10.
World Number 21, Ai Goto, was the favourite for this match on paper, as she has been playing tremendous badminton throughout the event. However, she found herself completely helpless against the lower ranked Chinese, who played a far better game in the match.
Jia Chen was in complete control of the game from the start of the first set, as she was incredibly quick in picking the bird early from the tape of the net. It was a battle of mental and physical skills, as both shuttlers tried to push each other in every
corner in the court.
The Chinese was playing better in the front court, from where she created many opportunities to place her powerful smashes. Until the interval, Jia Chen was leading the game at 11-5.
After the break, the Japanese put up a little resistance, but failed to stop the convincing progress of the Chinese, who showed no mercy to the higher ranked shuttler and finished-off the set by a 21-10 margin, in just 15 minutes.
Jia Chen’s surprising performance continued in the second set, as she maintained the speed of the rallies to put pressure on the second seed Japanese. Throughout the second game, the Chinese sailed ahead of the Japanese and won the game by a stunning margin
of 21-10, in just 14 minutes. The semi-final ended in 29 minutes with a 21-10 and 21-10 margin.
In the final, Jia Chen will be up against her team-mate, Lu Lan, who thrashed top seed, Sayaka Sato of Japan, in the semi-final battle.
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