Jun Hao stuns world No 5 Jonatan Christie at Singapore Open
Leong Jun Hao will next meet reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who won the Thailand Open title two weeks ago. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : After five consecutive first round losses this year, national singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao caused a major upset at the Singapore Open today when he defeated Indonesian Jonatan Christie to move into the quarter-finals.
Displaying powerful smashes, Jun Hao won in straight games of 21-16, 21-19 to overcome the world No 5 in 53 minutes.
The Malaysian, ranked world No 25, had qualified for the second round yesterday when his Chinese opponent, Lei Lanxi, gave him a walkover.
After losing the first game, Jonatan came back strongly to lead 18-15 in the second game but Jun Hao took the next four points before going on to win the match.
It was his third victory over the Indonesian No 1 in five meetings.
In the quarter-finals tomorrow, Jun Hao will face a stiff test against reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who won the Thailand Open title two weeks ago.
He last met Kunlavut, the world No 2, at the Thailand Open last year where the homester won in three games.
Jun Hao also had an impressive run at the Singapore Open last year, defeating Kanta Tsuneyama in the first round, and causing an upset by beating two-time champion Anthony Ginting in the second round before losing to Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.
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