Chen Long, Chen Yufei bags first win in BWF World Tour Finals

GUANGZHOU, China - Home favorites Chen Long and Chen Yufei both got winning start in BWF World Tour Finals 2019 here on Wednesday.

Chen Long overcame Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, 21-17, 10-21, 21-17 in an hour and 10 minutes.

Chen Long held a 14-4 head-to-head record but this was one of those days when both appeared near the top of their game. Chen was nimble and fleet-footed, and with Axelsen having the advantage in attack. Despite losing a close first game, Axelsen kept his focus, and some great rallies ensued, showcasing some electric exchanges.

The Dane's attacking pressure paid off and he forced a third game, in which he stayed level until the interval, but a couple of lapses from then on was sufficient for Chen to get his nose ahead.

In the other match of group B, Jonatan Christie of Indonesia beat Aners Antonsen of Denmark, 23-21, 21-16.

In Group A, world No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan cruised past Wang Tzuwei of Chinese Taipei, 21-10, 21-9. World No.2 Chou Tienchen of Chinese Taipei edged Anthony Ginting of Indonesia 11-21, 21-15, 25-23.

In the mixed doubles, world champions Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong of China crashed to one of their quickest defeats this year as they went down to Japanese pair Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino, whom they had beaten six times in a row. The Japanese pocketed the Group B win 21-15, 21-15 in just 33 minutes.

Hafiz Faizal/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja of Indonesia stopped in-form compatriots Praveen Jordan/Melati Daeva Oktavianti 21-11, 21-19.

In the women's singles, world No. 1 Chen Yufei eased past another Chinese He Bingjiao 21-9, 21-18.

Nozomi Okuhara of Japan survived a torrid test by Tai Tzuying of Chinese Taipei 15-21, 12-18, 21-19.

Another close battle in the men's doubles saw Indonesian pair Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo avenge last year's defeat to Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen of China, 21-18, 14-21, 21-18.