'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Unseeded Ajay Jayaram went down in straight games against World No. 1 Chen Long in the final of the Korea Open Super Series. The Chinese was completely dominant in his 21-14, 21-13 win over the Indian in Seoul.
The World No. 32 entered the final after a morale-boosting win over World No. 7 Chou Tien Chen 21-19 21-15. The fancied Chinese shuttler won the Korea Open title last year as well and Ajay Jayaram was required to put up a monumental effort to even have a chance against the top seed.
The Chinese took the lead early in the first game, but the Bangalore-based player won 3-straight points to lead 5-4. However, Chen Long won three unanswered points of his own as he took a 2-point lead (7-5).
With the score at 9-7 in favour of Long, Jayaram and his opponent indulged in one of the best points of the match. A brilliant rally involving exquisite strokes near the net had the crowd’s eyes transfixed on the court before the underdog delivered a perfectly disguised drop shot to wrong foot the retreating Long. Jayaram tied the score at 9 moments later, but Long took two consecutive points to enter the break in the first game leading 11-9.
The break and advice from Pullela Gopichand failed to bring about a change in fortunes for the Indian as the Chinese reiterated his dominance with an attacking game, proliferated with smashes all over the court as he extended his lead to 14-11. With Jayaram trailing 13-16, Long broke away, winning 4 straight points as he had 6 game point opportunities. But, the 26-year-old needed just one opportunity as he sealed the first set 21-14 with a brilliant backhand cross court drop shot which floored the Indian.
Long’s quality shines through
Ajay Jayaram started the second game better by taking a 2-0 lead. Long levelled the score in the next 2 points, but the 27-year-old restored his 2-point lead (4-2). However, the World No. 1 tied the score at 5-5 after a mistake by Ajay Jayaram, who had the court at his mercy, but his smash crashed into the net.
It was all Chen Long from that moment as he went into the break in the second game with a healthy 5-point lead (11-6). After the break, Ajay won 2 points to decrease his deficit, but Long extended his lead to 7 points (15-8).
Chen Long had to be at his defensive best with the score at 16-9 when the Indian hit two back-to-back body smashes, but he not only deflected those, but won the point with a lethal smash. Ajay Jayaram showed some resistance in the end when the score was at 10-19, to reduce his deficit to 7 points.
But, Long was not to be denied his second consecutive Korea Open title after he won the second match point. The unseeded Indian failed to pull off another surprise as he surrendered meekly 14-21, 13-21.
