Australian Open: Mapasa/Yu Smash 14-Year Curse
Hosts Australia will have semifinal representation at their event tomorrow for the first time since 2010.
· PREM KUMAR
It’s thanks to the valiant efforts of Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu, who played arguably their best match in a while to beat Sung Shuo Yun/Yu Chien Hui 20-22 21-15 21-18 and punch their last four ticket at the Quaycentre.
Mapasa/Yu also ended Australia’s 15-year wait in women’s doubles by emulating Huang Chia-Chi/He Tian Tang, the eventual 2009 runners-up. The following year was the last the local fans witnessed their players in the semifinals – Huang in women’s singles, Saliya Gunaratne/Chad Whitehead in men’s doubles and He and Ben McCarthy in mixed doubles.
“Feels like a dream. When we won that last point, everything inside was just shaking. It's good to be in the semis,” exclaimed Yu, whose child-like giggles gave away the joy she was feeling inside after making it a memorable day for Australian badminton.