A shift to hot and sticky conditions for Day 3 at the Roketto Sydney International certainly put the players to the test during the Round of 16.
However, New Zealand Mixed Doubles pair Shaunna Li and Edward Lau took it in their stride this morning during their clash against Christian Bernardo and Elanor Christine Inlayo [PHI].
Li and Lau took out the first game 21-13, before Bernardo and Inlayo returned fire in the second taking it 21-18.
In the last game Li and Lau stuck to their strategy and overcame their opponent’s finesse around the net to take the third 21-16.
“They were really tough conditions which made it very hard – it was hot and humid in the hall,” Lau said after the match.
“We played to our strategy and won lots of easy points.”
The last time they played an International together back was in Saipan, however, that hasn’t hindered their cohesion this week in Sydney.
Physically we’ve had a lot of tough opponents,” Li said. “It’s definitely good to have our mojo back.”
They will now meet Australians Nozomi Shimizu and Andika Ramadiansyah in tomorrow’s XD Quarter Finals.
“Our plan from here is to look back at some film of our next opponents, come up with a game plan and then execute.”
Regardless of the outcome for the rest of the week in Sydney, what they are most looking forward to is heading back home to New Zealand next week to play on their home court at the MAXX North Harbour International.
“We are so excited to play back at home and that we are back in business,” Li said with a smile.
“It’s very exciting and we’re also looking forward to welcoming all of the other international players.”
Following the Mixed Doubles match with Li, Lau came back from the depths against Chinese Taipei’s Kuan Lin Kuo in the Men’s Singles.
After losing the first game 16-21, Lau did what he does best – kept grinding until the end to turn the tables and win the next two games 21-19, 21-18.
He will now face last week’s YONEX Bendigo International Men’s Singles Champion Shogo Ogawa tomorrow in the Quarter Finals.
Meanwhile last week’s YONEX Bendigo International WS Champion Tanya Hemanth continues her strong form and is also through to Saturday’s Quarter Finals.
The No.3 seed 21-year-old from India defeated Chinese Taipei’s Yi En Hsieh in straight games 21-18, 21-16.
Hemanth attributed her recent run of success to her highly supportive team back in India, but also acknowledging that her years on court are helping her evolve.
“It’s all of the learning that I’ve had not just this year, but my entire life,” Hemanth said.
“I am winning plenty of close matches because of lessons learned during the ones that I’ve lost – it’s given me plenty of confidence on the badminton court.
“In the lead up before coming to Australia I had a few good weeks of great practice back in India and it’s paying off.”
For all other results from Day 3 at the Roketto Sydney International: https://bit.ly/RSINT2024
Tune into the Badminton Oceania YouTube channel from Saturday 10am (AEDT) to watch all the Quarter Final action live from Court 1 & 2: https://bit.ly/RSI2024StreamingPlaylist
