All England: Tai in Fourth Straight Final
Known for her inventive strokeplay, it was Tai Tzu Ying’s turn to surprise Carolina Marin with her defensive skills as the two-time champion entered her fourth straight final at the YONEX All England.
· DEV SUKUMAR
Marin, the 2015 champion, got it right in the opening game, but in the face of sparkling defence by her opponent and her own inconsistency in controlling the shuttle, lost the plot in the next two.
Marin bludgeoned her way to a quick opening game win, but struggled with her precision as the match wore on. Compounding the problem was her opponent, who kept her under pressure with her overhead variations. The point at which the match turned was early in the third, when Marin, sensing blood, swooped in for the kill – only for her opponent to return the shuttle behind her back. That point appeared to deflate Marin, whose intensity dipped from that moment.
“I felt a bit of drift in the hall and I couldn’t control the shuttle and got frustrated with myself,” said Marin. “I think she was waiting a lot for my attacking shots and that’s why she played the lift and push me to the back of the court. She was cleverer than me today. She played a bit different today. We know each other well, and you need a different plan for every match. I have to plan another strategy with her next time.”