(by Steve Hopkins)
Three Chinese players made it into the Final 8 – all three advanced to the Final 4. Fan Zhendong rolled over Patrick Franziska in three quick games, Liang Jingkun did almost the same thing to Kristian Karlsson in his 3-0 win, and Ma Long needed all five games to top Lin Yun-Ju. Ma Long will face off against Liang Jingkun in one semifinal on Saturday evening.
Japan’s Yukiya Uda continued his great run on Thursday. He topped Dang Qiu 3-2 and will now face off against Fan Zhendong on Saturday. Uda was a qualifier who then upset Timo Boll in the opening round of the Main Draw. He then defeated Lim Jonghoon on his way to the Quarters. And after his victory over Qiu, Yuda is the big surprise of the Semis.
In Women’s Singles, the Final Four has turned out very much as expected. There were four Chinese players in the Final 8 and all won. It was Chen Meng against Wang Yidi and Sun Yingsha against Wang Manyu in the Semifinals. Those Semis were played today, and the Final will be Wang Manyu versus Chen Meng.
Men’s Doubles went to Wang Chuqin and Fan Zhendong, and Mixed Doubles went to Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin. The Women’s Doubles Final will be played on Saturday
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