YONEX FRENCH OPEN QF - Top 4 seeds into Semi-final!

Lin Dan (pictured left) was the first player to show the road to his fellow seeded players with a two-game victory over Denmark's Persson, who confirmed that his season had ended and that he will be back sometime during the spring of 2010. However, the Dane showed a return to form and can rest easy knowing he is back to somewhere close to his 2008 level.

By Tarek Hafi. Photos: BadmintonPhoto.com (Live)

Lin Dan's compatriot, Chen Jin, had some major trouble dealing with Hong Kong's Hu Yun, who took the Chinese player to a three-game battle. Chen Jin had to rely on his superior and reliable fitness to totally wear out his opponent, who, in the end, could only bend over in exhaustion, as his body language displayed the signs of a grueling match.

Taufik Hidayat (pictured right) proved again that the French Open has a peculiar effect on him. The Indonesian always entertains and involves the huge crowds and this year it was Chen Long was unfortunately the one to fall at Hidayat’s sword. Still, the Chinese put up a great fight and clearly troubled the Indonesian veteran. Taufik became visibly frustrated during the match and even attracted the whole crowd's attention, who had been more focused on Hongyan's match. The young Chinese even took Taufik beyond 21 in the first game, but wasn't strong enough to hold on and finally threw it away 20-22.

"He wasn't strong mentally enough to gain the first game," commented Taufik Hidayat to the press. The last game was one-way traffic for Taufik who, constantly leading, showed no sign of fatigue or any lack of concentration. He joins Lin Dan and Chen Jin in the last four.

"He is a very good player, but he still needs experience," said Taufik about his opponent. "He is very powerful but that's all - still very far from Lin Dan's level."

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His next opponent is not only a good friend but also a player who has given the independent Indonesian trouble for many years. Peter Gade played his best to overcome Bao Chunlai, recent Japan Open winner and the in-form player at the moment. The latter immediately showed his will to win the match, clenching his fists and shouting after the very first point. Bao’s aggressiveness paid off as he took an early lead but Gade was quick to catch with the fanatical support of the whole stadium on his side. Both players gave an exhibition of amazing badminton in the Pierre de Coubertin stadium and in the end it was Gade who prevailed to thunderous applause and cheering from the French crowd.

"I really didn’t expect to play that well. Bao Chunlai was playing really well. I guess that’s what helped me to play better. In the third game, I was really playing my best and Bao Chunlai slowly broke up mentally when I was leading in the third game," said Gade after his win.

Badminton veterans Yao Jie and Pi Hongyan, both former Chinese players now playing respectively for the Netherlands and France, will now have the task of getting through the new Chinese generation Wang Lin and Wang Yihan.

Dutch player Yao Jie managed to break away from the dangerous Adriyanti Firdasari, who caused an upset yesterday, defeating world number two, Tine Rasmussen. Although she looked tired from her third straight week of tournament play, Yao Jie exhibited her flawless techniques and superb net play.

"I am feeling very tired at the moment," admitted Yao. "This is my third tournament in a row, I am feeling physically weak.

"I think I will be meeting China’s Wang Lin and it will be very tough but I hope I am going to feel better tomorrow," commented Yao Jie after her 18-21, 21-19, 21-15 victory.

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Home favourite Pi Hongyan (pictured left) had her share of scares against nineteen-year-old Olga Konon. The latter was certainly not afraid of confronting the French number one player as she started off her match with a high tempo and well-angled smashes. The French player had to call on all her experience to counteract the skill of the up-and-coming Polish player. Konon was playing superbly until getting a game point at 22-21, with fantastic net play and very accurate smashes but Pi Hongyan, buoyed by her home support, stole the game 25-23.

The French woman, now full of confidence, exploited Konon, who looked so tired after 8 matches this week and 14 matches in past 10 days. Hongyan dominated the second game and took her place in the last four with a 21-9 second game victory.

"She was playing really well. I did my best net play but every time she managed to make something better, then I saw she was really persistent in doing some long rallies, but I was okay with that. I’m still fresh and I started to do the exact same," said Hongyan.

Nevertheless, another tough hurdle awaits her on her way to a second final at the French Super Series and her name is Wang Yihan, the young Chinese All England winner.

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