FRENCH OPEN 2015 Finals – Lee Chong Wei is back!

Lee Chong Wei finally got a hold on his first Superseries title of the year, ending months of starvation for the Malaysian superstar, in a one-way match against the Parisian title-holder Chou Tien Chien while Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na became the first ever Korean pair to win two Superseries events in a row.

By Tarek Hafi, Badzine Correspondent live in Paris.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Dato Lee Chong Wei can be proud of his achievement in Paris.  After months of painful moments, the former world #1 finally climbed the men’s singles draw to tightly clutch the trophy in Paris.

“I haven’t had good results for the past seven months.  This is my first Superseries title of the year, though I still have the China and Hong Kong open where I wish to play better and get one more Superseries title,” confessed Lee Chong Wei after this match.

The multiple Superseries winner – who is now in the hunt for the 40th such title in his career – didn’t have to force his talent against an obviously tired Chou Tien Chen, dominating outrageously the first game.

“After the results I had in Korea Japan and Denmark, I just came here to play. I didn’t think about winning or losing but just tried my best on every shot,” added the Malaysian.

After an easy first game, Lee Chong Wei built up another huge lead in the second, only to find that Chou Tien Chen was much a more complex opponent than expected.  The defending champion slowly came back to nearly level terms with the Malaysian at 17-18.

“I lost focus in the second game.  I wanted to win and this lead me to making mistakes,” said Lee.  However, the experienced Malaysian still raced towards victory and sealed his match 21-18.

“I love it here, I love the crowd, they’ve been very supportive, I really hope to come next year and try my best.  This win is giving me confidence for the rest of the year,” concluded the superstar from Malaysia.

Korean momentum?

Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na once more displayed how much they have improved as a pair claiming a second title in a row, becoming another contender to emerge as the winner in Dubai. Despite several turbulent patches, the world #6 used all their experience to conclude on a another positive note, after being severely threatened in the third game.

It was an exquisite start for the Koreans.  Obviously much more experienced with finals at this level, they showed no signs of nervousness but instead assaulted their opponents with various shots and great attacks and a first game that they won 21-10.

It was possibly hurt pride that motivated the Indonesians to send some great responses towards Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na, as the underdogs looked much more involved in their final match in Paris from the second game. Praveen Jordan made better use of his powerful smashes and deployed great tactics to give the match another aspect and he and Susanto took the second game 21-15

“We won the first pretty easily, but they started to play really well in the second where we started to be less focused.  However, in the third, we were much more successful in the most important points,” said Ko Sung Hyun after his match.

And indeed, despite the great opposition shown by the Indonesians, the two Koreans proved to be a step higher in the main points, with Kim Ha Na being much more present at the net and braver at finishing rallies.

“We recently changed our mixed doubles coach. I have been able to learn much more and adapt my game,” confessed Kim Ha Na, who has thus claimed her first victory in Paris, while Ko Sung Hyun had already been crowned in men’s doubles with Lee Yong Dae three years ago.

Speaking of Lee Yong Dae, he claimed the men’s doubles title again this year, bringing him to the top of the all-time Superseries table, alongside Yu Yang.  Both Zhao Yunlei and Lee Chong Wei are just one title away from the mark of forty now attained by both Yu and the other Lee.

As for this year’s Superseries table, Ko and Kim have now moved to the top of the mixed doubles standings and have clinched their berth in Dubai.  Wang Shixian was still unable to claim her first title of 2015 but she nonetheless remains just ahead of the new French Open champion Carolina Marin.  Marin beat Wang in the shortest final of the day in Paris.

Final results
XD: Ko Sung Hyun / Kim Ha Na (KOR) [7] beat Praveen Jordan / Debby Susanto (INA)  21-10, 15-21, 21-19
MS: Lee Chong Wei (MAS) beat Chou Tien Chen (TPE) [6]  21-13, 21-18
WD: Huang Yaqiong / Tang Jinhua (CHN) beat Luo Ying / Luo Yu (CHN) [2]  21-13, 21-16
WS: Carolina MARIN (ESP) [2] beat WANG Shixian (CHN) [4]  21-18, 21-10
MD: Lee Yong Dae / Yoo Yeon Seong (KOR) [1] beat Mads Conrad-Petersen / Mads Pieler Kolding (DEN)  21-14, 21-19

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