The China players ensured a clean sweep in the qualifying rounds of the Li Ning China Open Super Series 2010. However, it was Zhou Wenlong who stole the limelight after brushing aside Yuekun Chen 21-13, 21-19 in 34 minutes to earn a spot in the main draw of the men’s singles event.
Not to be mistaken with the character of the same name in Singapore’s television series The Price of Peace, Zhou is eager to make an impression on the courts.
The youngster trains alongside China’s hero Lin Dan, but Zhou could be staring at an early exit in the hands of his idol. Lin Dan plays Zhou in Round 1. Fresh from his Asian Games gold medal effort, Super Dan could face countryman Chen Long in the quarter-final followed by Chen Jin in the semi-final.
The other men’s singles qualifier is Lu Yi. He managed to outpace Liao Junwei 21-13, 21-17 to earn a spot in Round 1.
It will be interesting to see how far German lass Juliane Schenk could go in the women’s singles event. Sixth seed Schenk plays Korean Bae Seung Hee in Round 1 followed by a possible date with another European player, Petya Nedelcheva of Bulgaria in Round 2.
In the qualifying rounds, China’s Liu Xin was forced to sweat it out before edging team mate Di Suo 23-25, 21-16, 27-25 in a match that stretched almost two hours. Xia Jingyun also made the cut after beating another China player Yao Xue 21-15, 21-15 in 33 minutes.
