Lu Guangzu, Cai Yanyan Triumph – Review: Crown Group Australian Open 2018
Chinese youngsters Lu Guangzu and Cai Yanyan won the singles titles at the Crown Group Australian Open 2018 in Sydney yesterday.
· DEV SUKUMAR
Indonesia, Japan and Korea split the doubles honours, with Berry Angriawan/Hardianto; Ayako Sakuramoto/Yukiko Takahata and Seo Seung Jae/Chae YuJung winning the Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles respectively.
Lu, runner-up at the Lingshui China Masters in April, achieved the biggest victory of his young career as he surged through the Men’s Singles qualifying draw before beating several players ranked above him. Vanquished opponents included Korea’s Heo Kwang Hee in the first round, Malaysia’s Chong Wei Feng in the second, India’s Sameer Verma in the quarter-finals, and compatriots Zhao Junpeng in the semi-finals and Zhou Zeqi in the final.
Lu took the first game of the final comfortably, then withstood a strong challenge from Zhou in the second before winning the match 21-8 23-21.