YONEX Thailand Open: Liew Springs Ambush on Antonsen
There was a moment late in the second game of their opening round match at the YONEX Thailand Open, with Anders Antonsen fast catching up on Liew Daren, that the Malaysian played that rarely-seen shot in men’s…
· DEV SUKUMAR
There was a moment late in the second game of their opening round match at the YONEX Thailand Open, with Anders Antonsen fast catching up on Liew Daren, that the Malaysian played that rarely-seen shot in men’s singles – the loopy slow drop from the back, with the shuttle mesmerisingly close to the tape.
It was a big moment, for had the shuttle fallen on Liew’s side, chances were that Antonsen would have swung the momentum. As it turned out, that sparkling moment gave Liew a breather at 17-14 from which he could sight the finish line. Liew, world No.41, did seal the biggest upset of the tournament so far, knocking out the third seed 21-12 21-18.
“That shot was not practiced at all, I just played it. If it works, it works,” Liew smiled when asked about his slow drop, played under pressure with Antonsen having recovered from 4-11 to a two-point deficit at 14-16.