French Open: ‘Badminton is a Mental Game’
"Finally, I'm through to a quarterfinal," were the ecstatic words of world No.6 Jonatan Christie after his win over Lin Chun-Yi marked a turning point in his recent encounters with Chinese Taipei shuttlers.
· DIANNE PIERRE
Christie won 21-14 7-21 21-11 after losing in the Round of 32 at the Asian Games and Denmark Open to Chou Tien Chen. In the opening game, the Indonesian played with a relaxed style and genuine enjoyment, but Lin changed his strategy in the second, putting the world No.6 on the defensive.
"Losing in the first round in Denmark last week was annoying," Christie admitted. "I had to play aggressively in the decider. The important thing about the 750s and the 1000s is mentality. It's a mental game. If you get that part right, you can win."
Christie carried a renewed sense of confidence and determination post-match.