Carolina Marin overcomes Tai Tzu Ying to take first match in Dubai

Sport360 staff 16:30 09/12/2015
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  • Winner: Carolina Marin.

    World number one Carolina Marin came from behind to beat titleholder Tai Tzu Ying in her bid to add the Dubai World Superseries Finals title to the host of other major titles she has won this year.

    The 22-year-old Spaniard trailed for most of the first set up till 15-16, but once she got in front her range of strokes blossomed.

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    “They were too slow at the start,” she Marin. “I had to get the speed changed. I wanted to play faster.”

    Marin scored well with her steep left-handed smash and yet still retained good control with net shots which helped set up the openings.

    The Spaniard, making her debut in the competition because she was unable to qualify last year, eventually ended looking a genuine favourite for the title, winning 21-16, 21-9.

    Tai still has two matches in which to repair the damage, and to hang on to her title by qualifying from group A for the semi-finals.

    Meanwhile, world number two Jan Jorgensen made a promising start to the men's competition, coming from 8-12, and 13-16 behind in the second game against Hu Yun, before taking the match 21-10, 23-21.

    “I was very pleased to get off in two games, because he is very tricky and can turn a match round quite quickly,” said Jorgensen. “We have Chen Long (the world champion) in our group so it’s important to stay in good shape.”

    Earlier, the tournament started with an upset, both emotional and statistical, when Zhang Man and Zhao Yunlei, the world’s number one mixed doubles pair and a married couple from China, were beaten by a partnership ranked nine places below them, compatriots Lee Chun Hei and Chau Hoi Wah. 

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