Report: Giant-killer and China’s teenage sensation Gao Fangjie added one more name to the list of her conquests as she defeated Olympic Champion Carolina Marin in straight games to advance into the finals of the China Open Superseries Premier. She beat Marin 21-19, 21-19 and will now face World No 5 Japanese shuttler Akane Yamaguchi who beat Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon to enter her third successive Superseries final this year. There were not as many surprises in the men’s singles event of the China Open, in which reigning world champion and top seed, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, made the final, where he will take on two-time former World Champion and No 6 seed, Chen Long of China.
Highlights, China Open SSP 2017: Chen Long ends 25-month Superseries title drought; Akane Yamaguchi wins
FP Sports
• November 19, 2017, 17:01:58 IST
Catch all the live scores and updates from Final day action at the China Open Superseries Premier
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November 19, 2017, 15:30:49 (IST)
21-14! There is pin-drop silence in the crowd after yet another Axelsen winner leaves Chen Long baffled. The Dane has enforced a decider in style.
November 19, 2017, 17:01:58 (IST)
We have now come to the end of the China Open Superseries Premier.
Chen Long reclaimed the crown after a brief hiatus while Akane Yamaguchi finally ended up on the right side of the results of a Superseries final. There were no surprises in the doubles division.
Thank you for being with us for the coverage over the past three days. Join us next week for Firstpost’s coverage of the Hong Kong Superseries from Friday.
November 19, 2017, 16:11:14 (IST)
November 19, 2017, 15:58:47 (IST)
Chen Long’s 25-month wait for a Superseries title comes to an end in front of his home crowd. Long wins his 4th title at China with a 21-16, 14-21, 21-13 victory over World No 1 Viktor Axelsen
November 19, 2017, 15:53:53 (IST)
18-12! A wonderful net exchange comes to a close with Viktor Axelsen hitting a jump smash to win the point and serve
November 19, 2017, 15:50:55 (IST)
16-9! One more net play and one more point for Chen Long. The Chinese shuttler has been dominating net proceedings in the decider leaving Axelsen baffled quite a bit
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November 19, 2017, 15:48:42 (IST)
14-8! Chen Long wins three successive points post the interval. Every Axelsen lift is met with a powerful smash and a drop shot from the Dane is met with a cross-court winner by Long.
November 19, 2017, 15:45:56 (IST)
11-8! Axelsen is focusing on Chen Long’s weakness and is hitting towards the back but the former World No 1 holds on to the lead to go into the mid-game break of the decider with a three-point advantage
November 19, 2017, 15:42:30 (IST)
9-4! Viktor Axelsen wins back the serve with a cross-court winner but Chen Long’s defensive strategy seems to working like clockwork as the Dane is tested near the net
November 19, 2017, 15:41:10 (IST)
November 19, 2017, 15:38:43 (IST)
6-3! A wonderful rally ends in favour of Viktor Axelsen as net plays spoilsport in Chen Long’s lift. The Olympic champion leads
November 19, 2017, 15:37:00 (IST)
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November 19, 2017, 15:35:17 (IST)
3-2! Axelsen wins that contentious point. The judges call it a fault but Chen Long and the crowds clearly think otherwise
November 19, 2017, 15:33:23 (IST)
2-1! The mid-net play that got Axelsen the point in the previous rally fails him this time as Chen Long takes the lead in the decider
November 19, 2017, 15:28:34 (IST)
19-12! Axelsen has dictated the pace of the second game and is cramping up Chen Long not allowing him to play his natural free-flowing game
November 19, 2017, 15:27:05 (IST)
16-10! Axelsen is playing shots from the frontcourt, which is causing problems for a defensive Chen. The drift hasn’t helped the Chinese ace.
November 19, 2017, 15:23:54 (IST)
November 19, 2017, 15:22:26 (IST)
9-6! Chen is finding it difficult to lift the shuttle from the sidelines now. Axelsen has targeted the backhand side and if he manages to unsettle the Chinese, we will be in for a decider!
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November 19, 2017, 15:13:28 (IST)
3-3! No such luck this time for Axelsen as Chen Long wins back the serve after an Axelsen cross-court smash fails to get past his side of the court
November 19, 2017, 15:12:16 (IST)
3-1! Axelsen takes the lead with a backhand winner and a shot that hits the net but lands safely enough to give him one more point
November 19, 2017, 15:10:37 (IST)
November 19, 2017, 15:08:35 (IST)
21-16! Chen Long finishes the game with an angled smash placed perfectly. Axelsen needs to hit the ground running in the second game to enforce a decider. The Dane should apply pressure from the first shot and not allow Chen Long to have a lead like in the first game where the scores read 7-1 at one point.
November 19, 2017, 15:07:04 (IST)
20-16! The Dane stays alive in the match with that cross-court winner. Chen Long is one point away from clinching the opening game of the men’s singles Final
November 19, 2017, 15:05:06 (IST)
18-15! A lucky break for Chen Long as an Axelsen backhand meets the net before entering Chen’s half
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November 19, 2017, 15:03:35 (IST)
17-14! A 27-shot rally comes to an end with Axelsen unable to retrieve a Chen Long drop shot to give the Chinese shuttler the serve
November 19, 2017, 15:02:23 (IST)
16-14! Three successive points for the Dane has reduced the deficit to just two points now.
November 19, 2017, 15:01:03 (IST)
16-12! A brilliant cross-court winner leaves Chen Long stranded and gives Axelsen the point and serve.
November 19, 2017, 14:57:30 (IST)
13-9! A dipping cross-court jump smash falls just wide off Chen Long to give Axelsen his third successive point
November 19, 2017, 14:56:09 (IST)
13-7! A good exchange of cross-court shots comes to an end with Chen Long damaging his racquet and conceding the point and serve to Axelsen
November 19, 2017, 14:55:13 (IST)
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November 19, 2017, 14:53:39 (IST)
11-6! Chen Long goes into the mid-game break with a five-point advantage after a Axelsen backhand meets the net
November 19, 2017, 14:49:31 (IST)
8-2! Chen Long has got a dream start to the final. He is exhibiting excellent restraint and defence to get the better of the Dane so far.
November 19, 2017, 14:47:05 (IST)
4-0! What a rally and what a cross-court winner from Chen Long. The Chinese shuttler opens up an early lead against the Dane
November 19, 2017, 14:42:51 (IST)
Viktor Axelsen is yet to drop a game in this tournament so far. However in contrast, Chen Long had to overcome the quarter-final and semi-final matches in tough three-game encounters.
November 19, 2017, 14:41:07 (IST)
This will be the 12th meeting between both these players and Chen Long holds a 9-2 advantage.
November 19, 2017, 14:40:33 (IST)
Chen Long, 3-time former champion of China Open takes on Viktor Axelsen, who aims to become the second Dane to win the title after Jan O Jorgensen in 2016
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November 19, 2017, 14:37:40 (IST)
It is time for the Final match of the day.
The men’s singles match will see World No 1 Viktor Axelsen take on Olympic Champion Chen Long
November 19, 2017, 14:36:32 (IST)
The fifth seeded Chinese pair of Zhang Siwei and Huang Yaqiong outclass their Danish opponents to win 21-15, 21-11
November 19, 2017, 14:23:04 (IST)
11-2! Zheng and Huang have completely outclassed their Danish opponents in the second game of the mixed doubles Final
November 19, 2017, 14:18:25 (IST)
The fifth seeded pair of Zheng and Huang win the opening game 21-15.
End of Liveblog