Spanish delight: Carolina Marin reacts during the women’s singles match against China’s Chen Yufei at the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Spain’s Carolina Marin looks well placed to end her elusive wait for the World Tour Finals title if her stunning win over China’s Chen Yufei is anything to go by.
The prestigious season finale crown is one of the only big titles still missing from the three-time world champion’s glittering collection.
Marin toppled home favourite and reigning Olympic champion Yufei 25-23, 24-22 in a thrilling final Group B match to seal her spot in the semi-finals at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium yesterday.
It was sweet revenge for the Spaniard after she had lost to the in-form Yufei four times this year, most notably in the final of the Indonesian and Denmark Opens.
It was also Marin’s first win over the Chinese player since 2019.
The 30-year-old was the only women’s singles player to end the group stages with a flawless record.
She had also beaten United States’ Zhang Beiwen and Yufei’s teammate Han Yue in straight games in her earlier matches.
World No. 5 Marin was particularly pleased about her physical and mental condition so far in the tournament.
“Of course I feel really happy but it was not about winning this match alone but also about how I felt on court,” said Marin in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“I think I’m in good shape especially mentally. From the beginning of this tournament, I’m so focused on what I have to do on my game.
“I want to keep improving and so far that is what I’ve been doing. It means a lot to play a semi-final here and I’m looking forward to it. It doesn’t matter to me who I will face,” added Marin.
Marin will take on Taiwan’s world No. 4 Tai Tzu-ying in the last four today.
Meanwhile, despite the loss, Yufei is also safely through to the semi-finals after two wins.
She will face South Korea’s world No. 1 An Se-young for a place in the final.
