Hong Kong player doesn't hang around after embarrassing show
Wang Chen left the arena at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in a hurry. Almost as quickly as China's Xie Xingfang took to dismantle the Hong Kong champion, who suffered an embarrassing 11-2, 11-3 defeat in the semi-finals of the women's singles at the US$$250,000 Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open last night.
Embarrassed that she was unable to put up sterner resistance, the world number three from Sha Tin failed to acknowledge the crowd as she made a speedy exit after being outclassed, outmaneuvered and outwitted by the world champion, who will meet compatriot and Olympic champion Zhang Ning in today's final.
Wang had been hoping to emulate her last-16 performance in last month's farcical National Games when she defeated the world number two on her way to the semi-finals of the tournament she decried as 'unfair' and 'unjust'.
But despite the crowd urging her on and everything going in her favour, including a neutral umpire from Japan, Wang just couldn't turn it on, producing an almost pitiful performance.
'Tonight, I didn't play as fast as I normally do and I was less patient. I should have prolonged the rallies. Xie made very few mistakes and made it hard for me. I couldn't get into the match at all,' said 29-year-old Wang, who was beaten in less than 30 minutes.
'She was too good for me today. I tried to win the match but she was too strong. My form wasn't there. Xie has changed her style a bit since the National Games.