Olympic champion Li Xuerui makes a second great escape
China’s star player reaches the quarter-finals of the All England Open
Olympic champion Li Xuerui made a great escape for the second successive day to survive into the quarter-finals of the All England Open badminton championships on Thursday.
The top-seeded Chinese player came from a game and 8-13 down against Japan’s Minatsu Mitani, the world No 16, drifting to within three points of defeat before winning 14-21, 21-19, 21-15.
Li had saved a match point on Wednesday against Thailand’s Busanan Ongbumrungpan, the world number 17, and once again proved resourceful enough to turn the tide against a good opponent who had the momentum in her favour.
I hope it will be a good experience to have two tough matches. It can help me to become psychologically and mentally tougher
“It’s a difficult situation when your opponent has a lead,” admitted Li. “Both my coach and myself were telling me to keep fighting.
“I also adopted the right tactics to perform at my level. I was able to adjust and find solutions, so in that way I was happy with my performance.”
Li’s version was that she attacked with more patience in the second half of the match. She also avoided being forced on to the defensive so much by the lively Mitani, and reduced what had been a high error ratio.
From 8-13 she went on a crucial five-point sequence, reaching parity with a superb block to the net from a Mitani smash, and turning defence immediately into an attacking winner.