Wang packs off Ratchanok and Porntip
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Former world No 1 Wang Shixian of China toppled Thailand's top players Ratchanok Intanon and Porntip Buranaprasertsuk en route to the semi-final of the China Open in Shanghai.
Currently ranked fourth in the world, Wang, who won the 2010 Asian Games gold medal in Guangzhou, survived four game points on Friday to upset word No 2 Ratchanok 24-22 21-10 in the women’s singles quarter-finals.
The resurgent Chinese dominated play with impressive cross-court shots and solid defence game and outplayed the world champion, Ratchanok, for the fifth consecutive time.
Porntip, who on Friday produced a giant-killing show to stun world no 3 Wang Yihan 21-16 18-21 21-16 in the quarter-finals, was no match for red-hot Wang Shixian in the semi-finals yesterday, losing easily 21-16 21-5 in just 31 minutes.
While Ratchanok’s hopes of booking one of the eight spots in the Super Series Finals has become slim, Porntip’s semi-final place in Shanghai means she has a good chance of earning one. The next week’s series in Hong Kong will determine who will be eligible for the Finals in Kuala Lumpur next month.
