Yamaguchi shows class, earns title shot

Top seed Akane Yamaguchi lived up to her billing as the world No.1 with a 21-10, 18-21, 21-16 win over reigning Olympic champion Chen Yufei of China to reach the women’s singles final of the US$850,000 BWF Singapore Open yesterday.

Yamaguchi will take on second seed An Se-Young of South Korea who defeated third seed Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan 21-16, 21-14 in the other semi-final.

World No.2 An is chasing her second title in as many weeks after her victory at the Thailand Open last Sunday.

Anders Antonsen of Denmark edged past third seed Kodai Naraoka of Japan 19-21, 21-16, 21-17 in the first men’s singles semi-final.

He will face either seventh-seeded Thai Kunlavut Vitidsarn or second seed Anthony Ginting of Indonesia in the title showdown of the World Tour Super 750 event.

In the women’s doubles, top seeds Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan of China defeated compatriots Li…