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Olympic champion Li Xuerui avenged the most shocking setback of her career by overcoming Thailand’s teen sensation Ratchanok Intanon to reach the final of the All-England Open championships yesterday. |
Intanon became the youngest ever world champion at the age of 18 years by beating Li in the final in Guangzhou just seven months ago.
But after a good start in Birmingham yesterday she was outplayed 21-18, 21-8 by the 23-year-old Chinese player in the semi-finals.
Li, one of the most talented of stroke-makers, ended the match with a rush, taking advantage of Intanon’s increasing discomfort from a calf injury, although the difference in the states of mind of the players was also significant.
Li was less tense than before her home crowd in August and since then Intanon has found the pressure tough as a target for everyone to beat. And this time the pressure played its part.
“Compared with my three previous matches this was a much more relaxed performance,” Li said.
“I was also more relaxed than in the world championships and I just tried to go for it.”
She was not distracted by the possibility that Intanon might be injured, she claimed.
“Once I’m on court, no matter what the conditions, I want to play my best. Everyone has a different level on injury when we play,” Li added.
Intanon, who played well against Michelle Li of Canada in the quarter-finals, surged into an 11-5 lead this time and looked capable of reaching the final for a second successive year.
