Hong Kong Open: Tough Start for Christie and Ginting

Jayce September 10, 2024 1 0

With the withdrawal of top seed Shi Yuqi, Jonatan Christie faces a challenging start in his title defense at the 2024 Li-Ning Hong Kong Open.

Following the seed withdrawals, Christie is now the top-ranked player in the draw and will face Wang Tzu Wei in the first round. Wang holds a narrow 8-7 lead in their head-to-head encounters, though Christie has won two of their last three matches.

Similarly, Christie’s Indonesian teammate, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, also faces a new opponent—Toma Junior Popov. Six weeks ago, the Frenchman ended Ginting’s 2024 Paris Olympic dream in the group stage.

Last year, Christie became the first Indonesian men’s singles player to stand on the podium since Budi Santoso in 1998.

Withdrawals:

Men’s singles: Li Shi Feng (fourth seed), Lee Chia Hao
Women’s singles: Wang Zhi Yi (second seed), Nozomi Okuhara (eighth seed), Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo
Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (second seeds), Choong Hon Jian/Haikal Muhammad (eighth seeds)
Mixed doubles: Ye Hong Wei/Lee Chia Hsin (fifth seeds), Choong/Go Pei Kee

Promotions:

Men’s singles: Justin Hoh, Cheam June Wei, Jason Gunawan
Women’s singles: Lee Yu-Hsuan, Yu Chien Hui, Pitchamon Opatniputh
Men’s doubles: Huang Di/Zhou Hao Dong, Kim Gi Jung/Kim Sa Rang
Mixed doubles: Wang Chi-Lin/Hsu Yin-Hui, Leong Iok Chong/Ng Weng Chi