India’s K Srikanth reached his fourth Superseries final of the year after beating Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki Vincent in straight games in the semi-finals of the Denmark Open Superseries Premier. The 24-year-old Indian needed less than 40 minutes to win the match 21-18, 21-17.
The world No 8, who won the Australian Open and Indonesia Open, and finished runner-up at the Singapore Open, will take on the 37-year-old Lee Hyun-il of South Korea in the summit clash. Srikanth will know he cannot underestimate Lee, who earlier recorded a shock win over compatriot and top-ranked Son Wan Ho. Lee won 25-23, 18-21, 21-17 in a match that lasted over 90 minutes.
Srikanth won the first game rather comfortably, aided by an opponent who was rather slow to get off the block. Srikanth attacked Wong right from the beginning and maintained a lead throughout the game before taking it 21-18.
Wong looked to have discovered some form in the second game. After trailing 5-7 at one point, Wong won the next five points to take a 11-9 lead into the mid-game interval. Srikanth recovered to make it 15-15 before winning the point of the match by diving to his right to return what seemed like an un-returnable shot, and then got some adrenalin flowing by taking the point via a smash.
Srikanth went on to take the game comfortably from there, having three game-point opportunities, as he booked a place in his fourth Superseries final of the year.