Thais Topple Top Seeds – Singapore Open: Day 5
Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai served up a massive upset today at the Singapore Open 2019, as they brought to an end Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong’s 18-match unbeaten streak this year.
· DEV SUKUMAR
The top-seeded Chinese had swept everything before them in the run-up to this tournament, winning 15 matches in a row and picking up three titles. Puavaranukroh and Taerattanachai went in having lost all six previous encounters against the world champions, but the underdogs stepped it up today with brilliant badminton under pressure.
The pivotal moments were in the closing stages of the opening game; the Thais withstood a torrid attacking spell before turning the tables on their opponents. The Chinese recovered well to take a 14-9 lead in the second, but couldn’t raise their level even as their opponents clawed their way back.
Puavarnukroh and Taerattananchai, who are in their third final this season, will be eyeing their first title in over a year.