Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying turns tables on Olympic champion Chen to win Thailand Open
- Women’s final a rematch of clash at Tokyo Games where Tai had to settle for silver
- Chen fell behind early before forcing a decider but eventually lost 21-15, 17-21, 21-12
World No 2 Tai Tzu-ying gained some revenge over Olympic champion Chen Yufei on Sunday by winning the Thailand Open women’s singles final 21-15, 17-21, 21-12.
Their encounter was a rematch of last year’s Tokyo Olympics final where Tai, who was the world No 1 at the time, could only come away with silver.
The Taiwanese 27-year-old, who lost the Thailand Open final to Spain’s Carolina Marin last year, was off to a fast start as she sped into a nine-point lead in the first game against China’s world No 4 Chen and took it 21-15.
Chen, who was part of the Chinese women’s team which was narrowly defeated by South Korea in last week’s Uber Cup final in Bangkok, forced the match to a decider.
But Tai quickly opened up a seven-point lead and rode the momentum to claim victory.
Malaysia’s world number six Lee Zii Jia faces China’s Li Shifeng in the men’s singles final later on Sunday.