All-China affair for French Open title

PETALING JAYA: Rio Olympic champion Chen Long stopped world No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan in straight games to set up an all-Chinese battle for the men’s singles title at the French Open.

Chen Long won the semi-final contest 21-18, 21-8 in 52 minutes on Saturday to avenge two earlier defeats to the Japanese this year.

Momota, who was gunning for a second straight title after winning the Danisa Denmark Open a week ago, defeated Chen Long in the Asian Badminton Championships final in Wuhan, China, in April and also at the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok, Thailand, the following month.

Chen Long will take on compatriot Shi Yuqi in the final. Shi Yuqi ended the gallant run of Danish youngster Rasmus Gemke by winning their semi-final encounter 21-11, 21-16.

Denmark Open winner and world No. 1 Tai Tzu-ying remained on course for a second consecutive triumph by beating China’s Chen Yufei 18-21, 21-12, 21-14 in the women’s singles.

Tzu-ying will go up against Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi, who sent He Bingjiao of China packing 20-22, 21-19, 21-19 after battling for 71 minutes.

Bulgarian sisters Gabriela Stoeva-Stefani Stoeva emerged as surprise finalists after rising to the occasion to beat South Korean pair Lee So-hee-Shin Seung-chan 15-21, 21-15, 21-15.

They will be up against Japanese fifth seeds Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara, who beat Indonesians Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu 21-10, 21-8.