Lin, Xie lead all Chinese singles finals at Japan Open badminton
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-09 17:14

World number ones Lin Dan and his girlfriend Xie Xingfang paved their way through to the all-Chinese men's and women's singles finals at the Japan Open badminton tournament.

Lin breezed past last European hope Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark 17-14, 15-10 to set up the men's final against Chen Hong, the winner over Athens Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia 15-9, 15-5.

World number one Lin Dan of China returns the shuttle during the men's singles semi-finals badminton match against Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark at the Japan Open in Tokyo April 9, 2005. Lin won the match 17-14 15-10. [Reuters]

Xie, who took the top ranking announced Thursday after winning six tournaments in a row including the most prestigious All England, stretched her singles match winning streak to 34 by beating Pi Hongyan of France 11-7, 11-5.

On Sunday, Xie will take on Athens Olympic and world champion Zhang Ning, who struggled to beat Wang Chen of China 11-6, 6-11, 13-11.

Denmark's Kenneth Jonassen returns the shuttlecock to China's world number one Lin Dan during a men's singles semi-finals badminton match at the Japan Open in Tokyo April 9, 2005. [Reuters]

"I played with Pi Hongyan so many times and we know each other very well. I was able to control the game pretty well today. I think I did everything what I wanted to do today," said Xie after the 33-minute match.

Xie explained that her play became steady as she has worked hard after she was dropped out of the national team for the Olympics, and it brought her the number one ranking.

World number one Xie Xingfang of China eyes the shuttlecock during the badminton women's singles semi-finals match against France's Pi Hongyan at the  at the Japan Open in Tokyo April 9, 2005. Xie defeated Pi 11-7 11-5. [Reuters]

"Of course, I'm glad to become the world number one, but I want to compete in a big event like the Olympics, the world championships, the Uber Cup and the Sudirman Cup as the number one player," said Xie, 24.

And Xie expects Zhang to be the most likely player to stop her match winning streak.

"There are a lot of good players who are at the same level as me, and I think Zhang Ning has the highest possibility to beat me among them all," said Xie.

France's Pi Hongyan reacts after missing a shot during the women's badminton singles semi-finals match against China's world number one Xie Xingfang at the Japan Open in Tokyo April 9, 2005. [Reuters]

Meanwhile, Zhang said she could not play at her best because she had trouble against the winds caused by the air conditioner and the lights over the court.

"I've played in Japan many times before, but it is difficult to control the shuttle, because the winds are irregular. It is different every year," said veteran Zhang, 29.

For the final against Xie, Zhang said: "She has more strength and is speedier than me, we play a similar attacking game, and she is younger. That's why she's been winning recently."

"I must change the rhythm and tactics if I can beat her tomorrow," Zhang said.

Both the men's and women's final are a re-match of the All England finals where Xie and Chen ended on the winning side.

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