# Chong Wei outplays Axelsen to reach semis
# Lin Dan thrashed by Jorgensen
# Defending champion Chen Long also in semis
By Rizal Abdullah
Datuk Lee Chong Wei played his best match so far in the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open Superseries Premier at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam with a smashing 21-14, 21-13 win over Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The second seeded Malaysian will face another Dane for a place in Sunday’s final – fifth seeded Jan O Jorgensen who earned a rather easy win over fourth seeded Lin Dan 21-17, 21-4 in a match which lasted 32 minutes.
Lin Dan was rattled by a fault service in the first set at with Jorgensen leading 20-17 and never recovered from that. He just seemed to give up in the second set and with that went his hopes of winning the elusive Malaysia Open.
Reaching the semifinals in the Malaysian Open and playing on his home soil after suffering back to back defeats in the All England (first round) and India Open (second round) in March, Chong Wei is taking cautious approach in his bid to win his 11th Malaysia Open title.
“Today’s match was better than yesterday’s and I hope to play much better tomorrow. It will be a much tougher match against Jorgensen. He is in form and the win over Lin Dan speaks all,” said Chong Wei who holds an impressive 14-1 lead in his head-to-head count against the Dane.
Jorgensen was jubilant with his win over the Chinese ace and said: “I played a structured game in the first set and flawless badminton in the second.
“Chong Wei will not be an easy opponent. He is playing on home soil and has fan support and obviously Chong Wei will start the favourite.”
“I feel so good to have beaten Lin Dan who was my idol as I was growing up,”
Lin Dan was a very disappointed man as he questioned the service judge’s decision to fault him.
“Jorgensen was never faulted although his serves were questionable,” lamented Lin Dan.
Chong Wei’s home fans came out with force to cheer Malaysia’s hottest badminton property and he did not disappoint them with his powerful smashes delightful net play.
“I will give my best but as a sportsman you have to defeats…it is part and parcel of sports.”
Quarter-final Results (Selected)
Men’s singles
Jan O Jorgensen (Den) beat Lin Dan (Chn) 21-17, 21-4
Christie Jonatan (Ina) beat Rajiv Ouseph (Eng) 21-19, 21-19
Lee Chong Wei (Mas) beat Viktor Axelsen (Den) 21-14, 21-13
Chen Long (Chn) beat Tian Houwei (Chn) 21-16, 21-16
Mixed Doubles
Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (Mas) beat Puavaranukroh Dechapol-Sapsiree Taerrattanachai (Tha) 21-18, 20-22, 21-17
