Paris: Former World No. 1 and unseeded men’s singles player Lee Hyun-il of Korea has turned back the clock with an outrageously sublime display to reach the French Open semifinals.
The current World No. 17 Lee smeared World No. 8 Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan 24-22, 21-16 with an extraordinary quarter-final performance to reach his third consecutive Superseries semi-finals in a span of one month. Lee who lost to compatriot Son Wan-Ho in both Korea Open and Denmark Open semi-finals, and will clash with No. 8 seed Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong whom Lee held a 2-0 career head to head record prior to their meeting on Saturday.
Angus Ng Ka Long was also in a sizzling form when he ousted No. 3 seed Jan Jorgensen of Denmark to book a semifinal place at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris. Ng coolly worked his way past Jorgensen when he came out on top 27-25 in a seesaw first set encounter. The first set loss left Jorgensen demoralized, as he pretty much allowing Ng to win the second set easily with 21-12.
Meanwhile, No. 6 seed Son Wan-Ho couldn’t make his third consecutive semi-final appearance when Hsu Jen Hao of Taiwan beat Son 6-21, 21-18, 21-14 on Friday. Hsu is set to play Shi Yuqi of China next.
In men’s doubles, last week’s Denmark Open runners-up Bodin Isara/Nipitphon Phuangphuapet of Thailand remained on course for their first ever Superseries title when they pulled off an upset to beat the 2016 All England champions and No. 7 seeds Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov of Russia 21-14, 21-14 to set up a semi-final clash with No. 8 seeds Angga Pratama/Ricky Karanda Suwardi of Indonesian next.
Men’s doubles No. 2 seeds Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark also advanced to the French Open semi-finals after a 21-16, 21-12 victory over Keigo Sonoda and Takeshi Kamura of Japan.
