Popov: Rejuvenated Zii Jia played like a top 10
KUALA LUMPUR: Independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia was pinching himself after stunning world No. 2 Christo Popov in straight games to reach his first Arctic Open semi-final in two years on Friday.
Lee Zii Jia, an independent shuttler, stunned world No. 2 Christo Popov with a straight-sets victory (21-11, 21-16) at the Arctic Open, reaching his first semi-final in two years. Popov, who became the first French player to reach the world's top two, had captured three titles this year, including the German Open, European Championships, and Japan Open.
Zii Jia, who struggled after injuries, returned to the Arctic Open after a demoralizing second-round loss to Wu Zhe Ying at the Super 100 Vietnam Open. Zii Jia expressed disbelief at beating the French player in straight sets, acknowledging Popov's improvement over the past two years. Despite Popov's best effort, Zii Jia's 3-0 head-to-head record against him kept him in contention for the final, where he will face Denmark's world No. 6 Anders Antonsen.
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