Lu Lan topples Sayaka Sato to enter into Women’s Singles final of the Russian Open Grand Prix 2011
China’s Women’s Singles shuttler, Lu Lan, proved that she is determined to win the title as she defeated top seed, Sayaka Sato of Japan, in the semi-final of the Russian Open Grand Prix 2011, in Russia, on Saturday, July 2.
World Number 25, Lu Lan, who is one of the most dynamic shuttlers in the world, took only two sets of 36 minutes to chuck out Sayaka, with a 21-14 and 21-17 margin.
Sayaka, who put up a good show throughout the tournament, failed to continue her winning run in the semi-final against the Chinese. The Japanese’s hopes of winning the Women’s Singles title in the Russia Open were thrashed as she received severe treatment
from Lu Lan, who was playing perfect badminton.
Right from the start of the opening game, the third seed Chinese played aggressive badminton by coming fast at the net to pick the bird early. Her speed pushed Sayaka on the back foot, as she failed to tackle the powerful smashes coupled with perfectly placed
straight and cross-court net shots. The Chinese was in a comfortable position at the interval by leading at 11-7.
Sayaka, who is currently World Number 20, failed to catch up the deficit even after the interval as she was visibly lacking the pace in her strokes. The Chinese shuttler grabbed the opening set with a 21-14 margin, in just 16 minutes.
Stung by the loss of the first set, Sayaka geared up her speed in the second game by playing fast at the net. She started to play repeated net strokes to avoid high lobs and was successful in putting up a fight until the break, where she was 10-11 down.
The Chinese also changed her strategy after the interval. She started to execute powerful attacking clears to push Sayaka into both corners of the rear court. She stretched the point-gap and won the set by a 21-17 margin, in 20 minutes.
In the Women’s Singles final, Lu Lan will take on compatriot Xiao Jia Chen, who crushed second seed, Ai Goto of Japan, in the semi-final of the event.
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