Nothing can stop him
Chen Long brushes aside strong draught to sail into q-finals
DEFENDING champion Chen Long proved to be very much at home at the Malawati Stadium as he cruised into the men’s singles quarter-finals of the Celcom Axiata Malaysian Open.
Despite several players complaining about the poor condition at the stadium, the world No. 1 was not concerned at all he thrashed Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki 21-17, 21-12 in the second round yesterday.
“I’ve heard some of my team-mates complaining about how bad the stadium is,” said Chen Long.
“But, having played two matches, I think it’s a bit exaggerated, to be honest ... it just needs a bit of adapting to because the draught is strong.
“It’s still a tough condition to play in, but I played pretty well today and I can’t complain too much.”
The two-time world champion will face compatriot and world No. 7 Tian Houwei in the quarter-finals.
“Houwei is one of the top three shuttlers in China now and he trains hard. Anything can happen in the match, so I’ll just have to be prepared,” said Chen Long.
Home favourite and second seed Lee Chong Wei, hunting a record 11th Malaysian Open title, also breezed into the last eight with a 21-18, 21-12 win over South Korean Son Wan-ho.
“Wan-ho is a tough opponent ... at least to me. I was playing against the draught in the first game but I managed to hang on to win,” said Chong Wei, who takes on sixth seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark next.
“Viktor has been playing well ... reaching the final of the Indian Open last week.
“But I’ve never lost to him (in seven meetings) and I intend to keep it that way.”
Malaysia’s other men’s singles representative, world No. 41 Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, crashed out after losing 7-21, 16-21 to world No. 5 Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark.
Jorgensen will take on fourth seed Lin Dan, who overcame Thailands Boonsak Ponsana 21-15, 21-9, in the last eight.