KUALA LUMPUR: “Didn’t expect it to be this easy.” This is the spontaneous reaction from Lee Chong Wei when he beat Frenchman Brice Leverdez in the second round of the China Open at the Haixia Olympic Centre today.
After enduring defeat to Leverdez in the first round of the World Championships in August, Chong Wei was somewhat shocked he was able to tame the 32-year-old Frenchman in straight sets, 21-6, 21-9, to book his place in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
According to the former World No 1, while playing Leverdez, he focused solely on his game plan and fought to win point after point.
“For me, while competing here at the China Open other things are not important. What I want is to regain my rhythm and confidence. Yes, I have carried out meticulous preparations to face Leverdez, including watching how he played in yesterday’s match,” he said when contacted today.
Waiting for Chong Wei in the quarter-finals will be the winner of today’s late match between Indonesian Jonatan Christie and Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong.
The last time Chong Wei won the China Open was in 2015 when he beat home favourite Chen Long, 21-15, 21-11 in the final.
Meanwhile, national men’s doubles pair, Ong Yew Sin-Tan Wee Kiong failed to make it to the quarter-finals after falling to fifth seeds, Liu Cheng-Zhang Nan of China, 16-21, 14-21.
Also out are national women’s doubles pair of Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean who lost to South Korean fifth seeds, Chang Ye Na-Jung Kyung Eun 21-16, 17-21, 18-21.