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Ayob upsets Chinese top seed
October 19, 2001 - Source : IBF
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 Ayob Sairul Amar's good run in last week's Dutchwas no luck: in his first 6* tournament, the 21-year-old Malaysian upset the number one seed Chen Hong of China to enter the quarter-finals.
Morten Frost should be delighted with the choice he had made in March 1998 to bring back Ayob Sairul Amar into the National Training Centre: his protégé proved him right once again on Thursday, when he ended Chen Hong's dream of winning the 6* Realkredit Denmark
On the centre court, under the attention of quite a number of people astonished by such an unknown player threatening the top seed, Ayob (pictured) had one of those good days. Very early on he took charge of the shuttle, pushing his opponent backwards and led throughout the match. Things started looking odd when the world number two was led 2 games to love. "His net play wasn't very good, he made many mistakes, and my coach and I had agreed that I should keep pushing him back to prevent his attacks."
The tall Chinese eventually won the third game, but it was only a short break before Ayob took over in the fourth. The young Malaysian shuttler had a scare, when he once again raised his hands up in the air thinking Chen's shuttle was out when leading 6/5, but it was called in. Last week, a similar fate had occurred, and his opponent Bao Chunlai had recovered to finally beat him. Not this time.
On his third match point, Ayob could celebrate at last for a final 7/1, 8/6, 2/7, 8/6 win. Earlier this year, Ayob performed really well in the Singapore and then last week in Eindhoven, barely losing to Bao Chunlai in the quarter-final. But his story goes back to 1997, when he was first asked to join the National Training Centre. "I stayed only a few months in the Academy: I was sent back to my hometown, in the North of Malaysia because of a lack of results. But then Morten Frost called me back in the team, and I am grateful to him for that. Later, Indra Gunawan completed my formation with a good mental work and he gave me confidence," he said.
Chen Hong's defeat spoiled a good day for China, as their three youngsters advanced to the quarter-final stage. Bao Chunlai, once again took a long time to get started, and gave hope to his opponent of the day: Hong Kong's Agus Hariyanto led two games to love and 3/0 in the third before the tall Chinese left-hander woke up and became the boss on court to win in five games. The surprise came from his compatriot Chen Yu, who made little of Roslin Hashim in a 7/4, 7/3, 7/0 victory. As soon as the game was over, he even lay down on the ground and did a round of sit-ups! Lin Dan was the expected third qualifier for the Chinese team.
Among the other winners of the day, Pullela Gopichand performed a very strategic game against Dutchwinner Lee Tsuen Seng. His net play and his smart defences once again proved efficient against the aggressive left-hander from Malaysia for a win in four games. Later on the same evening, Wong Choong Hann ended Danish hopes of see a compatriot succeed Hoyer Larsen (2000 winner) and Peter Gade (1999 and 2001). Wong (pictured) beat Kenneth Jonassen in spite of the crowd's support in four games as well. Ong Ewe Hock and Johan Hadikusuma also qualified for Friday's quarter-finals.
Camilla jumps over first Chinese hurdle
Camilla Martin didn't allow much time for her public to support her when she beat Chinese Zeng Yaqiong, as she spent just enough time on court to warm up. She seemed quite confident in an interview she had given the previous day to a Danish newspaper, and apparently, she was right to be: the Chinese gave little trouble to the fit Dane. In the three games and 20 minutes the match lasted, Camilla showed she hadn't forgotten about her fine round-the-head drop shots and precise net flicks.
But things might get a little tougher in Friday's quarter final, when Martin (pictured) meets Mia Audina from the Netherlands, who also spent little time on court against German Nicole Grether. Audina''s good day was following the victories of Yao Jie and Judith Meulendijks for a bright overall performance of the Dutch women's team. The latter beat the number three seed Chen Wang of Hong Kong 7/0, 7/5, 7/1.
Zhou Mi, Zhang Ning, Pi Hongyan and Hu Ting provided China with their usual sweep in the women's singles event as all five girls advanced to the quarter-final stage.
Eriksen and Schjoldager only Danish mixed doubles left
There were several Danish mixed doubles pairs in Thursday's quarter-finals, but only one will remain in the semi-final stage. Rikke Olsen and Michael Sogaard were surprisingly defeated in three short games by Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson, winner of the Dutchlast week. Another pair had a shot at victory, when Helene Kirkegaard and Jonas Rasmussen had a match point against Nova Widianto and Marisa Vita. "Jonas and I used to play together, and when a pair gets back together, they usually do quite well, but we were unlucky today," said Kirkegaard (pictured here with Rasmussen).
In the all Danish match, Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager had a hard time against Pernille Harder and Lars Paaske; The new pair did quite well, winning the first two games 7/5 and 7/2, but it was all the number one seed could take: Eriksen started hitting as hard as he could, while Schjoldager was finishing the points at the net. The magic combination which had led them on the top of the WGPF podium. They are to meet the other Indonesian pair, Trikus Haryanto and Emma Ermawati, who beat Michael Lamp and Ann-Lou Jorgensen in straight games.
Denmark will still have more to cheer for in the women's and men's doubles. Their three best pairs made it to the quarter-finals in both events. In the men's doubles, only Rasmussen and Lamp had to bow down to Eng Hian and Flandi Limpele. There should be some exciting matches today as the Indonesians take on Chew/Chan, while Sogaard/Laugesen will play the newly composed pair of Haryanto and Luluk.
On court now....
Results:
Men's Singles (top half)
Men's Singles (bottom half)
Men's Singles Qualifying
Women's Singles
Women's Singles Qualifying
Men's Doubles
Men's Doubles Qualifying
Women's Doubles
Mixed Doubles
Report and pictures by Raphael Sachetat
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