Malaysia’s K.Letshanaa is determined to put up a stronger fight when she faces China’s World.2 Wang Zhi Yi in the second round of the China Masters on Thursday. The world No.31 Malaysian booked her place in the second round after a victory over England’s world No.375 Karen Feng, winning 21-6, 21-3 at the Shenzhen Arena.
The victory is a huge step for Letshanaa as it was the first time she had progressed beyond the opening round of a Super 750 tournament.
Her next challenge, will be tougher as she has to face Zhi Yi three times and is yet to defeat the Chinese star. Their most recent game was at the World Championships in New Delhi, where Zhi Yi defeated her in the second round with 21-16, 21-9 score.
With the defeat in her mind, Letshanaa said she does not want to repeat the same mistakes. She hopes to close the gap against the experienced Chinese player and sees the match as another opportunity to learn from competing against one of the world’s best.
Adjusting to Tricky Court Conditions
Letshanaa said her opening match against Feng helped her to adjust to the conditions at Shenzhen Arena, particularly the timing of the shuttle. She explained that the draught inside the arena has made conditions tricky, with the court feeling different from one day to another.
Meanwhile, Zhi Yi made a strong start to her China Masters campaign with a 21-6, 21-14 victory over Thailand’s world No. 71 Tonrug Saeheng.
The chinese pair is also chasing their first China Masters title, setting up an important test for Letshanaa AS THE Malaysian looks to give a better performance than her previous games.
Sources: NST
