Tai Crashes Out – Day 2: VICTOR China Open 2018
Women’s Singles top seed Tai Tzu Ying suffered a second successive early-round loss, crashing out of the VICTOR China Open 2018 today to local hope Gao Fangjie.
· DEV SUKUMAR
The World No.1, who won the Asian Games in late August, was a second round casualty last week in Japan to China’s Chen Xiaoxin. Today, in the opening round against the 19-year-old Gao Fangjie, the top seed once again struggled with movement and placement of shots, frequently hitting wide of the lines.
After a disappointing opening game, Tai did show greater initiative in the second, with her whippy forehands catching Gao off-guard. Tai looked in control at 12-8 before the errors crept in once again and Gao finished it on the 37 minute, 21-17 21-16.
The young Chinese was surprised at the ease of her victory. “I didn't expect to win, because I didn’t play well, but she too was not at her best level and that’s why I won,” said Gao. “She made a lot of unforced errors and was not agile. I tried not to overthink. As the younger and less experienced player, my approach was to be aggressive.”