Nguyen Thuy Linh shocks fifth seed Carolina Marin in LI-NING China Masters 2023 opener
Posted : 22 November 2023
In a stunning upset at the LI-NING China Masters 2023, World No.22 Nguyen Thuy Linh made headlines by defeating the fifth seed, Carolina Marin, in a thrilling opening-round encounter. The Vietnamese player, unfazed by Marin's higher ranking, showcased remarkable defensive skills and composure during tense moments.
After overcoming a 9-13 deficit in the third set, Nguyen secured victory with six consecutive points, ending the match with a scoreline of 10-21, 21-19, 21-15. This triumph marks a career-defining moment for Nguyen, who had previously defeated other top players like Michelle Li and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung earlier in the year.
Reflecting on her impressive performance, Nguyen Thuy Linh expressed her determination, stating, “I just wanted to try my best, and I knew she would attack a lot, so I had to defend and be patient and follow her speed. I never thought I could beat her, but I thought I’d try my best when I’m on the court. I want to thank everyone who helped me. I will try my best for every match.” Marin, acknowledging her defeat, admitted that Nguyen played better and remained consistent throughout the match.
In the women's singles draw, other seeded players like An Se Young, Chen Yu Fei, and He Bing Jiao advanced without surprises. Meanwhile, the men's singles featured a compelling match between world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Kidambi Srikanth.
Vitidsarn, still working on reaching his peak physical condition, faced a tough challenge from Kidambi, ultimately winning in three games with a scoreline of 21-15, 14-21, 21-13. Olympic champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin emerged victorious in a closely contested battle against world champions Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae, with a final score of 23-21, 19-21, 21-17.
Among the notable upsets of the day was the mixed doubles third seeds Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino falling to Ye Hong Wei and Lee Chia Hsin in just 32 minutes, ending 21-15, 21-14. Additionally, the first-round clash between compatriots Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong concluded with Lee Zii Jia prevailing with a score of 21-15, 20-22, 21-17.
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