WANG gets it Right 4 Times over Tine

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Chinese players, three of them named Wang, will account for half of the women’s singles quarter-finalists at the 2010 Proton Malaysia Open Super Series but Wang Xin (pictured), in particular, is really getting into a very favourable rut.

By Don Hearn, Badzine Correspondent, live in Kuala Lumpur. Photos: Yves Lacroix, BadmintonPhoto (live)

Wang Xin extended her already impressive winning streak over Tine Rasmussen (pictured below), beating the Danish star for the fourth time in since September. She is joined in the quarter-finals by compatriots Wang Yihan, Wang Lin, and Jiang Yanjiao but while the other three were heavy favourites, Wang Xin had to work hard against the defending champion.

“I think what helps me is that I am mentally strong,” said Wang after the match. “Tine is one of the strongest opponents for the Chinese players and every time I have played her it has been very close so I have had to do my best and fight hard for every point.”

For Wang Xin today, the turning points Wang was waiting for came when she emerged from an 8-all tie in the second but the biggest reversal was her rebound from being 16-19 down in the deciding game, only to take the next five points unanswered to close out the match.

“What happened today has happened before, every time I play against Tine. She plays very aggressively and fast but her game has some ups and downs. That means I have to hold on and wait for one of the down periods when she is more likely to make mistakes.”

Next up for Wang Xin is Saina Nehwal of India, whom she last played, also at the quarter-final stage, on her previous trip to Malaysia at the inaugural Grand Prix Gold tournament in Johor Bahru last June.

“I beat Saina in Malaysia last time and then I reached the final in my first international tournament, so I think Malaysia is a very lucky place for me,” Wang smiled.

For Wang, that tournament was the first international outing since joining the national team. She had played overseas prior to that, the last time, in fact, being the Malaysia Satellite in 2003, but these were essentially national team tryouts and she got injured at the time and was not selected for the national team.

After playing only within China for several years and finishing as runner-up in two national tournaments, Wang put herself back on the map by beating former World Champion Xie Xingfang in a team event in 2008.

In fact, Wang’s saga resembles that of the player who beat her in last week’s second round, Bae Seung Hee of Korea who, though two years older, also got some international experience up until 2003 before spending the next 5 years in domestic obscurity before a national title led to her return to the national squad in late 2008.

“I could tell when I played Bae Seung Hee that we both have a fighting spirit and we are both senior,” Wang pointed out, “but she seemed to have more fighting spirit so I would like to learn that from her.”

“Since I won the Philippine Open last summer, I would really like to win a Super Series title this year,” said Wang, “but mostly I want to have consistent performances. I don’t want to do well and then fall off.

“As for the Uber Cup, it is a very important tournament and I would really like to play but I’m not thinking too much about it because China is so strong overall. I do want the coaches to believe in me and I will try to prove myself.”

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