Singapore Open Badminton: Last S’porean Gu Juan exits at quarter-final stage

Story by REDintern Stefanus Ian. Pictures by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports

Singapore Indoor Stadium, Friday, June 17, 2011 — Wang Xin, the Chinese world-ranked number two, dispatched Gu Juan, Singapore’s last remaining representative, 21-17, 21-12 in 29 minutes, in the women’s singles quarter-finals at the Singapore Open.

Despite loud chants of “Singapura” from the stands in between points, Gu Juan was unable to capitalise on the home support.

Wang Xin blitzed through the first game, scoring five straight points after initially being down 2-1 in the game. Gu Juan struggled with her net play in the first game with Wang Xin having nine winners won at the net compared to Gu Juan’s six.

Gu Juan managed to close the gap to within two at 16-14 but Wang Xin then replied with two successive points as she went on to close the first game 21-17.

The following game was a much more competitive one with the gap rarely extending beyond three points.

Gu Juan kept up the pressure on her Chinese opponent, patiently biding her time to win points. However, the Singaporean’s dogged resistance finally crumbled at 14-12 as Wang Xin went on a roll to score seven consecutive points to win the game 21-12 and, with it, the match.

After recovering from first-game losses in her previous two matches to eventually win, Gu Juan had no such luck this time.

In another women’s singles quarter-final, Wang Shixian, the tournament’s top seed, battled past Juliane Schenk 17-21, 21-15, 22-20 in a match that lasted 1 hour and 24 minutes.

The first game was a tight affair with both players trading leads several times during the match.

Although struggling with her smash, Juliane Schenk’s stellar net play allowed her to stay in the game. Schenk had eight net winners to her Chinese opponent’s two.

The German, who is the eighth seed in the tournament, scored three crucial points with the scores levelled at 12-12. With the lead established, she closed out the opening game 17-21.

In the second game, Wang Shixian led for most of the match before Juliane came storming back to take a 13-15 lead. However, Wang scored eight back-to-back points to level the match at one set apiece.

The third game became a battle of wills with Wang facing defeat, down 20-17 and with service to Juliane. Wang displayed tremendous composure and mental fortitude to grind out point after point to win the set 20-22 and earned, with it, a spot in the semi-finals.

Wang commented after the match: “Losing did cross my mind but I have seen other players being 17-20 down and coming back to win the game so I did not give up. I just kept telling myself, patience, patience and one point at a time.”

Having beaten Wang before at the Sudirman Cup, Juliane said after the match that she “enjoyed playing against Wang.”

Wang Shixian will now face Tine Baun, who defeated Cheng Shao Chieh, in the semi-finals on Saturday.