SYDNEY, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese duos of Feng Yanzhe/Huang Dongping and Guo Xinwa/Chen Fanghui will play for the mixed doubles title at the Australian Badminton Open after winning their semifinals on Saturday.
The world No. 1 pairing of Feng and Huang defeated the U.S. team of Presley Smith/Jennie Gai 21-16, 18-21, 21-7 at Sydney's State Sports Center to set up a final against second seeds Guo and Chen, who beat Thailand's Ruttanapak Oupthong/Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat 21-9, 19-21, 21-17.
In the women's doubles semifinals, top seeds Jia Yifan/Zhang Shuxian won the longest match of the day, requiring an hour and 21 minutes to down Indonesia's Rachel Allessya Rose/Febi Setianingrum 21-16, 20-22, 21-16.
It means that Jia and Zhang will play the seventh-seeded pairing of Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari, also from Indonesia, in the final.
Men's doubles fourth seeds Chen Boyang/Liu Yi defeated fellow Chinese duo Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang 21-12, 21-18 in the men's doubles semifinals and will face Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in the final.
Dong Tianyao won three consecutive points at the end of the first game and again late in the decisive third game of Saturday night's men's singles semifinal to claim a 21-19, 9-21, 21-18 victory over Indonesia's Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah, and will play against Alwi Farhan in the final. ■
