YONEX-SUNRISE VIETNAM OPEN QF – Keeping up with the Nguyens

First seed and big favourite, Nguyen Tien Minh gave his homeland crowd every reason to support him after an easy win against Thai upstart Pakkawat. But that was preceded by a win from new Vietnamese women's singles sensation Le Ngoc Nguyen Nhung (pictured), who also reached the final four stage at the 2009 Yonex-Sunrise Vietnam Open Grand Prix.

By Tarek Hafi, Badzine Correspondent. Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

Nguyen Tien Minh (pictured below), Vietnam's best and the favourite to win a consecutive title on his home ground, didn't disappoint as he swept his younger opponent Vilailak Pakkawat from Thailand, 21-14 - 21-8. The world #7 showed the form that recently put him in the top ten rankings and clearly stated his aim at the trophy on Sunday. Adityawarman from Indonesia will try to stop the Vietnamese fury, who won't certainly let anybody stop him until he gets what he is after.

Djarum's top player, and 2007 runner-up Andre Kurniawan Tedjono couldn't resist to his compatriot from the Pelatnas centre Tommy Sugiarto, too long, losing 16-21, 18-21. The 2006 World Junior Championship runner-up now faces a tough semi-final opponent in Malaysia’s Chong Wei Feng, who, on the other hand, spent much more time on court, having to fight against the persevering Hsueh Hsuan Yi of Taiwan but in the end came off the best with a 13-21, 21-16, 21-15 win. Sugiarto is playing in his second Grand Prix final of his career while Chong has a history of success in Vietnam, having been semi-finalist in the 2007 Open before finishing runner-up at the Vietnam International Challenge last year.

Top Seeds Fall

Title-holder and second seed Zhang Beiwen from Singapore fought hard but couldn't overcome in the end and suffered a 19-21, 21-18, 21-16 loss to her Indonesian opponent Fransiska Ratnasari, who is slowly getting back her form after a few recent succesful tournaments. Ratnasari will have a harder hurdle in tomorrow’s semi final, where third-seeded Malaysian Lydia Cheah will be waiting for her after an easy quarter-final match won over Hsu Ya Ching of Chinese Taipei.

Indonesia's hope, and first seed for this tournament, Maria Febe Kusumastuti, suffered the biggest upset of the day, defeated by unknown Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan in two straight games 21-19, 21-15. This loss will certainly be unfortunate for Maria as it could reduce her chance of being invited to join the National team in the Pelatnas Centre. Meanwhile, stardom could be awaiting Le Ngoc Nguyen Nhung if she keeps up on her present, prosperous road. She managed to reach the last four after a fifty-five minute battle against Indonesian youngster Linda Weni Fanetri.

Choong and Lee are back?

Malaysian veterans Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah will finally get their first real tough match after an easy win in today's match against Thailand's Chalardchalaem and Narktong. They are set to meet Indonesia’s new combination of Joko Riyadi and Luluk Hadiyanto, which is clearly a final before the final!

On the other side of the draw, second seeds Ong and Hoon had the easiest path to the semi-final with a clear win against Chrisnanta and Triyachart from Singapore and should get through the final easily, but they are first set to meet their team-mates Chan and Lim, who had a much harder road to the semi-final.

Top seeds’ day!

In the women's doubles field, almost all seeded pairs made it to the last four except for the Malaysian third seeds, Goh Liu Ying and Ng Hui Lin, who were defeated by their compatriots Lai Pei Jing and Ng Hui Ern. Although fourth seeds Chong and Woon had big troubles dealing with the Indonesian pair Melati and Permatasari, the Malaysians managed to grab the rubber game with a 21-19 score.

Malaysia vs. Indonesia…and possibly Taiwan?

After a rocky first round against Australians, mixed doubles top seeds Goh Liu Ying and Chan Peng Soon (pictured) breezed through the next two rounds in straight games to reach the semi final stage. The quickly rising pair shouldn't spend much more time on court tomorrow, against their teammates Ng and Lim and earning enough points in order to bring them in the top 20 pairs in the world.

The bottom side will be as interesting as Flandy Limpele from Indonesia and Cheng Wen Hsing from Taiwan are trying their luck together, and it seems to be working out well so far with a ticket earned to the semis, where they are scheduled to meet the second seeds Ahmad and Dili, who had the closest match today against the Aussie pair Veeran/Veeran 21-18, 19-21, 23-21. Tantowi Ahmad is the two-time defending champion, with two different partners, but the quarter-final win may have forced the new pair, who won the International Challenge in Vietnam earlier this year, to give up much vital energy for Saturday's semi-final against the dangerous Taiwan/Indonesia combination.

For complete results from the quarter-finals of the 2009 Yonex-Sunrise Vietnam Open Grand Prix, please CLICK HERE

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