Chinese, HK bets dispute ladies singles crown


China ’s Zhu Jing Jing moved in the threshold of a dream championship feat when she humped Adriyanti Firdasari of Indonesia , 21-12, 22-20, to crash into the final of the ladies singles against Zhou Mi of Hong Kong.

Zhu, ranked No. 207th in the world who had to go through three grueling games in the qualifier to gain a spot in the main draw, dethroned last year’s winner Saina Nehwal of India, 21-15, 21-13, in the first round then went on to post four more victories to gain a shot at the top $8,280 prize and precious ranking points.

But she will have to do it against Zhou, who turned back a hard fighting Juliane Schenk of Germany , 21-14, 17-21, 21-12, to clinch the first championship berth earlier.

Zhou, the world No. 54, will be gunning for her fourth title this year following victories in the New Zealand Open last May, the Miami Pan-American last April and the Thailand Open Grand Prix early this month.

What could tilt the favor to the unfancied Chinese is the nagging fact that Zhou will play with blisters on her right foot she sustained during her quarterfinal game with Yu Hirayama of Japan, whom she beat, 21-16, 21-14, to forge a semis duel with Schenk, a 21-17, 19-21, 21-13 upset winner over No. 3 Yip Pui Yin of China.

“Let’s see what happens tomorrow (today) if I wear my shoes again,” said Zhou through an interpreter.

Zhou’s win was her first against Schenk in three years after the latter eliminated the former in the first round of the 2005 World Championships in Anaheim , California .

Zhu, on the other hand, is eyeing a second title this year after topping the Austrian International Championship last February.