Chen stuns Lee to take Japan Open crown
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Shanghai Daily, September 26, 2011
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Chen Long of China celebrates after winning over Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in the men's singles final at Japan Open in Tokyo on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011. |
Chen Long claimed his second title in two weeks when he shocked world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei to win the men's singles title at the Japan Open in Tokyo yesterday.
The Chinese fourth seed, fresh from glory at the China Masters last weekend, dashed the Malaysian's defense of the title with a 21-8, 10-21, 21-19 victory.
In the women's singles final, Chinese world champion and No. 1 Wang Yihan whipped eighth-seeded Juliane Schenk of Germany 21-16, 21-14 in 43 minutes to regain the title she won in 2008 and 2009.
"It's exciting. I didn't think about anything during the match. I'm younger and he (Lee) is strong. I was just lucky to win," said Chen, 22, after winning the Japan Open for the first time.
The Chinese, also winner at the Thailand Open this season, used effective soft-touched cross-court shots to pile up the points in a surprisingly one-sided first game.
But Lee, 28, controlled the second game, hitting an array of spectacular jump smashes combined with disguised overhead drop shots to take eight straight points on his way to tie the contest at one-game all.
The lead changed hands several times in an exciting final game with neither being able to take more than a three-point lead.
Chen recovered from 15-17 to tie it at 18-18 and then 19-19 before taking a 20-19 lead when Lee's forehand shot landed in the net. The title was Chen's when Lee hit a smash wide.
Schenk, who eliminated world No. 2 Wang Shixian in the semifinals, defeated Wang Yihan at the 2009 world championships and pushed her all the way at the Indonesian Open.
But Wang Yihan got her revenge with a scintillating display. "First of all, I'm very happy to win
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