Top-ranked Tai Tzu-ying pushed through a challenging second game to clinch a 21-8, 23-21 victory against Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt at the Thailand Open to set the women’s singles final with former world No 1 Carolina Marin.
The Spaniard trounced South Korean teenager An Se-young 21-16, 21-16 on Saturday.
The men’s singles final will be between Viktor Axelsen and Ka Long Angus Ng. Axelsen mounted a strong comeback against Anthony Sinisuka Ginting to win 21-19, 13-21, 21-13 in 63 minutes while Angus beat the second seed Chou Tien Chen 17-21, 21-18, 21-15.
Tai Tzu player made a strong start, but Blichfeldt’s strong defence caused her problems.
The Thailand Open is the first of three consecutive tournaments in Bangkok culminating in the World Tour Finals from January 27.
Flown in a week before the start for quarantine and testing, the players are facing off in a bio-secure “bubble”, with no spectators allowed.
The tournament has been overshadowed by the positive cases for Egyptian mixed doubles player Adham Hatem Elgamal, a German coach and a French staff member.
Elgamal, who had to drop out on the first day and was moved to a hospital, took to Instagram on Saturday to raise doubts about his initial test results.
Running out of partners, Root was the last man out, caught by Emuldeniya on the boundary as he went for a six off Dilruwan Perera.
The unpredictable weather and durability of Sri Lanka’s defences will determine the result.
After their first innings collapse, Sri Lanka looked a different side in the second.
Perera and Thirimanne made 101 for the first wicket.
