US Open: ‘Desperate’ Gao Frustrates Pusarla
Gao Fang Jie was so hungry to make the YONEX US Open 2023 semifinals that she allowed third seed Pusarla V. Sindhu hardly any space to manoeuvre throughout her 22-20 21-13 win on Friday.
· PREM KUMAR
Pusarla, favoured to set up a heavyweight clash with top seed Ratchanok Intanon, played catch-up from the start and was only in the lead six times the entire match.
Gao revealed she came into battle “desperate” to end her wait for a last four spot at an HSBC BWF World Tour event, after last doing so at the 2018 Singapore Open, where she finished runner-up to Sayaka Takahashi.
“I fought for every point, even when leading, I didn’t take the foot off the gas. It was important I stayed focused until the result was secured,” said the 24-year-old world No.36 after avenging her loss to Pusarla at the same stage last week at Canada Open.