Toby Ng, Grace Gao pave path to Mixed Doubles semi-finals of US Open 2012
Mixed Doubles partners Toby Ng and Grace Gao make their way into the semi-finals of Yonex OCBC US Open GPG after thrashing Chia Bin Lu-Hsiao Ma Pai in the quarter-final round on July 5, 2012.
This epic 47-minute tussle lasted for three sets and both contenders strived hard to oust their opponent before wrapping up with 21-15, 20-22 and 20-22.
Though, the Canadian duo survived this test with a 2-1 margin but the real challenge awaits them as they are scheduled to meet an equally talented pair of Kenichi Hayakawa-Misaki Matsutomo from Japan in the next round.
However, they will enter the court with high shoulders after registering their mark in quarter-finals of this Grand Prix Gold event.
They displayed great finishing skills and secured the honour by clinching the last two sets in a row.
Meanwhile, their challengers could not capitalise the early advantage and missed a golden opportunity of a straight-set victory.
The Taipei campaigners looked in prime touch in first set as they bagged vital match point with a notable lead of six points in the final result.
They had a cautious start as they remained at the lower end until 2-5 but then they geared up and caught the opposing team before half time.
Later part of the game started with a couple of gruelling rallies but Chia Bin and Hsiao Ma struck hard when it mattered. They snatched seven consecutive points to end this segment with a 21-15 margin.
The second set was full of drama as at one stage the Canadians were on the verge of a 2-0 defeat but they turned the tables in the final moments.
World Number 29 duo Toby-Grace took some time to revive their lost form as they trailed behind until 2-7.
They managed to gather valuable points at a steady pace and finished the first half with a slight edge in 11-10 total.
After the interval, both teams pushed each other all the way to game point situation but Toby-Grace ended this race with a tight yet decisive margin of 22-20.
Third set was a replay of the previous one as Taipei pair performed exceedingly well but luck was not on their side again. The Canadian shuttlers rose as Champions by sweeping the table with a striking figure of 22-20.
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