Kevin/Marcus Follow Greysia/Apriyani To Indonesia Open Final

Kevin/Marcus (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Red and White Squad added their representatives in the final round of the Indonesia Open 2021 tournament to two pairs through the victory of Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Giden in the semifinals in Nusa Dua, Bali, Saturday night.

Launching Antara, in the last four in the upper pool, the pair nicknamed the Minions won a straight two-game 21-16, 21-18 victory over Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty from India.

Starting the match, the Minions immediately put pressure on their opponent with the aim of being able to play shorter than the previous match which took place in a rubber game. This method has proven to be effective in creating an advantage, even though they still receive counter attacks from opponents who still have a high fighting mentality.

In the first point game, the Minions couldn't finish the first game immediately because they made two mistakes. The original score was 20-14, turned in favor of Rankireddy/Shetty with an additional two points to 20-16.

But fortunately, the only Indonesian representative in the men's doubles sector did not create a hat-trick because on the third occasion he managed to close the first game victory with 21-16 after struggling 18 minutes.

The Kevin/Marcus game in the second game was more difficult because the 11th ranked men's doubles changed its strategy by defending and choosing to play long rallies that took time and energy.

Indonesia trailed 3-6 from India, because Rankireddy/Shetty had learned their mistakes in the opening game so they didn't want to throw drives and dropshots that were easily blocked by Kevin/Marcus.

However, when the score was 6-8, Kevin/Marcus again caught up and changed the position to a draw 8-8. At this moment Rankireddy/Shetty realized that the men's doubles had changed their game technique and the two pairs were involved in a kissing match and return in the front zone.

Dropshot, which was absent from the Rankireddy/Shetty game, was played again to serve Kevin/Marcus who increased the tempo of the attack. Even so, in the second interval India still held the advantage with a score of 13-16.

Kevin/Marcus did not stay silent and continued to catch up. Through a tight netting contest, the Minions turned 18-17 ahead over Rankireddy/Shetty.

The Minions continued to grip the lead until the game points 20-18. The certainty of Indonesia placing its second representative at the Indonesia Open was also created when Rankireddy hit his ball in an attempt to return it and completed the victory with a final score of 21-18.

Only one more representative of Indonesia is still struggling to catch up with Greysia/Apriyani and Kevin/Marcus, namely Jonatan Christie from the men's singles number who is still competing against Viktor Axelsen from Denmark.