PARIS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese shuttlers took up half of semifinal spots in the men's and women's singles events at the 2018 BWF French Open here on Friday.
Second-seeded Shi Yuqi fared well at the start against South Korean Son Wan Ho, building an 11-2 lead at the changeover, before tasting a 21-11 victory in the first game. The second game ran more tightly as Son made his response, but Shi still pulled away for a 21-13 win.
"I heated up quickly. My opponent was reluctant to let the match slip away, and he played more patiently in the second game, so it was a bit more intense before the changeover," Shi told Xinhua.
Men's singles Olympic gold medalist Chen Long eliminated the Asian Games champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia 21-18, 12-21, 21-16.
"He played better and more confidently after winning the Asian Games champion. He began to find rhythm late in the first game, but I stayed concentrated in the decider," Chen pointed out.
Shi will take on Dane Rasmus Gemke in the semifinal. Much more challenge awaits Chen as he will face Japanese ace Kento Momota, who saw off defending champion Kidambi Srikanth of India 21-16, 21-19.
Chen Yufei, the women's singles fourth seed, rallied past Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 16-21, 21-16, 21-13, setting up a semifinal clash with top seed Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei.
"A sluggish start caused much pressure for me in the first game. Since the second, I became more patient and did not concede turnovers easily," said Chen.
Despite an inferior head-to-head against Tai, Chen said that she has become more mature and confident, looking forward to challenging Tai in Saturday's semifinals.
Chen was joined in final four by teammate He Bingjiao, who outclassed Pusarla V. Sindhu of India 21-13, 21-16.
In men's doubles, Han Chengkai and Zhou Haodong, both aged 20, dived deeper into competition after seeing off Liao Min Chun and Su Ching Heng of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 21-18.
"We played quite positive at the start as we made full preparation," said Han. "They had done well in previous matches, so we maintained out mentality at a normal level."
The young Chinese pair will face defending champions Lee Jhe-Huei and Lee Yang of Chinese Taipei.
"They are the defending champions, with higher world rankings than us. We will fight for every point against them without too much burden," added Han.
Indonesian duo of Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, the world No. 1, displayed supremacy as they got past Chen Hung Ling and Wang Chi-Lin of Chinese Taipei 21-17, 21-11.
Mixed doubles witnessed different scenario from top two seeds. Top-ranked Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong overcame Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith of England 21-16, 21-19, while their teammates Wang Yilyu and Huang Dongping suffered a 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 loss to Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand.
Another disappointing loss arrived for Japan, as the reigning Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi fell to Bulgarian sister duo of Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva 21-8, 21-16. Japanese women's shuttlers had already lost their ace pairing Yuki Fukushima and Sayaka Hirota.
No Chinese pair made into quarterfinals in this event following Li Wenmei and Zheng Yu's loss on Thursday.
