Tai Tzu Ying, the talented badminton player from Taiwan, has once again showcased her exceptional skills by securing her 10th qualification for the prestigious Superseries Finals, now known as the World Tour Finals. This achievement is a testament to her consistency and dominance in the sport.
It’s worth noting that Tai Tzu Ying’s journey to the finals was not without its twists and turns. With Yamaguchi’s unexpected withdrawal from the tournament, Tai Tzu Ying found herself elevated to the 3rd seed, setting the stage for an even more intense and thrilling competition. Paired with other top-tier players such as An Se Young, Chen Yufei, and Carolina Marin, who hold the 1st, 2nd, and 4th seeds respectively, the World Tour Finals promises to be an electrifying event filled with fierce competition and extraordinary talent.
As Tai Tzu Ying prepares to take the court alongside these formidable contenders, badminton enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the spectacle that is sure to unfold. The stage is set for an enthralling display of skill, strategy, and determination, as these exceptional athletes vie for supremacy in one of the most prestigious badminton events of the year.
With the round-robin system, Tai Tzu Ying got into group A with An Se Young, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, and Kim Ga Eun. As An Se Young and Kim Ga Eun are from the same nation, South Korea, they have to play against each other on the first day. That means Tai Tzu Ying will play against Tunjung first.
First Day! Tai Tzu Ying vs Gregoria Mariska Tunjung
They both are playing well. But, Tai Tzu Ying, with her experience, just does the right thing at the right time to steal the first game from the Indonesians. With one game in the bag, Tai Tzu Ying plays with more confidence. She won the first match in two straight games, 21-18, 21-17, and tops the group A.
Second Day, Tai Tzu Ying vs Kim Ga Eun
In a round-robin system, every game and every point matters. So, Tai Tzu Ying needs to win this match in two straight games to secure her position in the group. But, you can make the best plan. As player step up on court, you never know what will happen next. Tai Tzu Ying even got her match point in the second game, but she failed to convert. That means they will play a decider. Fortunately, she played better in the third game and won the match 21-15, 21-23, 21-11. With this win, Tai Tzu Ying still tops the group A with 2 wins, with An Se Young in the third position.
Third Day, Tai Tzu Ying vs An Se Young
Tai Tzu Ying just needs one game to make it to the semifinal. But, as you know, she lost straight games to An Se Young. That means, An Se Young safely through to the semifinal, meanwhile Tai Tzu Ying still has to wait for another match result in their group, which is Tunjung vs Kim Ga Eun. If Tunjung wins the match, Tai Tzu Ying will make it to the semifinal as runner-up group A. If Kim Ga Eun wins, then she will accompany her compatriot, An Se Young in the semifinal. The drama continues when Tunjung fails to convert her match point in the second game, just like what Tai Tzu Ying did the day before. But in the end, Tunjung won the match, and Tai Tzu Ying goes to the semifinal once again as a runner-up group. This is the end of the group stage. There’re no surprises in the women’s singles disciplines. The top 4 seeds safely through to the semifinal, with An Se Young and Carolina Marin in the top position in their respective group. Meanwhile, Tai Tzu Ying and Chen Yufei as runners-up. In the semifinal, Tai Tzu Ying got to play against An Se Young, and Carolina Marin against Chen Yufei.
Semifinal, Tai Tzu Ying vs An Se Young (Again!)
Tai Tzu Ying played well in the first game. But she’s up against someone who is almost untouchable this season. So, losing 19-21 in the first game was considerably good. In the second game, it looked like a replay from their last match just before when Tai Tzu Ying fell behind 8-12. But suddenly she put up a good fight to win the second game 21-15. One game all. In the third game, she fell behind 5-11 at the interval. It looked like it would be a one-sided game when she fell so many points behind, 10-19. Then, from that point, a miracle happens. The rest is history. Probably the biggest comeback ever in a badminton match in recent times.
Well, as you know, Tai Tzu Ying has made many comebacks in her matches. She even tops the statistics with the most comebacks in 2021.
But this time, it feels different. It’s so special, especially for her fans. Because she’s up against the player whom she lost to in six consecutive matches, including their last group match just the day before. Even Tai Tzu Ying herself feels there’s no hope for her to win this match.
Tai Tzu Ying also knows that she was given the chance to play in the semifinal by the other player.
Final, Tai Tzu Ying vs Carolina Marin
After the epic semifinal, the badminton fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the final showdown. It’s a highly anticipated rematch from the 2020 World Tour Finals, featuring the talented players Tai Tzu Ying and Carolina Marin. The tension is palpable as enthusiasts remember the outcome of the previous final and are curious to see how this encounter will unfold.
Similar to the 2020 World Tour Final, Tai Tzu Ying faced a tough start, losing the first game with a score of 12-21. Furthermore, she fell behind at the interval of the second game with a score of 9-11, causing concern among her supporters. However, what followed was a remarkable turnaround in fortunes. Despite the initial setbacks, Tai Tzu Ying showed incredible resilience and determination, surprising even herself with her remarkable performance. She won the match 12-21, 21-14, and 21-18. With this victory, she extended her record with 4th titles in this year-end tournament.
Here some clips from Tai Tzu Ying after final’s interview!
Here some news about Tai Tzu Ying on 2023 World Tour Finals that you could read.
Tai Tzu Ying Forever 