DENMARK OPEN Rd 2 - Zwiebler comes Full Circle

Thursday, 22 October 2009 15:22

Marc Zwiebler, buoyed by his first round win over friend Woong Choong Hann, fought back from a set down to beat yet another Malaysian Hafiz Hashim and on doing so booked a debut appearance in this his 7th Super Series appearance.

By Mark Phelan (Live in Odense) Photos: Badmintonphoto.com (live)

The German no. 1, who had recently been suffering from a dramatic loss of form, displayed the determination and guts that saw him win 7 tournaments in the 2007/08 season as he came back from the dead to beat Malaysia’a Hafiz Hashim.

In the opening set Zwiebler (pictured left) was on the pace immediately as both players traded points to 15-15. A lack of concentration from the German then allowed his very experienced opponent gain the upper hand as Hashim built up a three point lead which Zwiebler was unable to recover from. The Malaysian closed out the set 21-16 an looked in control as they headed into the second.

Neither player found the composure necessary to maintain a stranglehold on the second set but it was Malaysian who set out his stall in taking a 7-3 lead. Zwiebler, sensing the match was drifting away from him, clawed it back to 8-8 and then went on the offensive himself to lead 13-10. As if it mimic his opponent Hashim then battled back to lead 15-14 and the crowd felt that this time the Malaysian was in the mood to see the set to its conclusion. What happened next proved to be the polar opposite as Zwiebler went on a point manhunt and took five points before the Malaysian had time to think. Both players then traded points as Zwiebler forced the match to a deciding rubber with a 21-17 win.

The match was now set up for a thrilling conclusion and that is exactly what the Danish supporters got. Hashim raced into a 12-1 lead and the feeling around the hall was it just was not to be Zwiebler’s day. It was evident that the supporters appeared to switch their attentions to other matches running on the adjoining courts as there appeared to be no way the German could fight back……How wrong they were!

At 16-4 down the German did the impossible and started the comeback. He rattled off 10 unanswered points to close the gap to 16-14 before Hashim managed to stem the German tide. Zwiebler, who was now obviously in the mood, then proceeded to inflict even more pain on the Malaysian by going on another point gathering spree. Another 6 without reply found the German at match point 20-17. Hashim managed another solitary point

before the German closed out the match in what was truly a remarkable comeback.

"Hashim has always been a player who has his ups and downs in a game and with this in mind I knew I had to be patient. Once I won the second set I knew I was in with an opportunity to win the match. The final set was amazing. When I went 16-4 down I made a deal with my coach to see how many points I could get and I also remember from last week Ispen coming back against me at Dutch Open so I secretly thought to myself I could still win this. I feel that I have come full circle in this tournament as it was against Woong Choon Hann in 2004 that I had my serious back injury and now I feel that after beating him and Hashim today all that I well behind me and I’m thankful to be doing what I love and to have a nice balance in my life," said a delighted and somewhat philosophical Zwiebler after his win.

Sune Gavnholt's journey came to and end at second round stage but the Danish player did not go down without a fight against number 5 seed Chetan Anand from India. The Dane, after loosing the first to 19, sent he Danish fans wild with a 21-15 win in the second but the ultra cool Indian brushed the Dane aside in the deciding set 21-9 to advance to the quarter final.

"I felt could have won this match in 2 sets as i made some silly mistakes in first set at 19-19. In the final set I had nothing left after 15 matches in 9 days but overall I have to be happy with what I have achieved here," said Gavnholt after his defeat.

The sole Chinese shuttler in the draw, Chen Long (pictured right), came back from a set down against Kenichi Tago of Japan to keep China’s interest alive in the men’s singles while number 5 seed Simon Santoso proved he is here to win with a decisive 2 set win over Aravind Bhat 21-17 21-12.

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