China’s Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang advance to second round at Australian Open 2023

On June 10, 2023, Chinese badminton duo Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang secured a 2-0 victory over Australian pair Forrest Huang and Zhang Mingzhong in the men’s doubles first round of the 2023 Australian Open, advancing to the second round of the BWF World Tour Super 500 event, according to official tournament records.

The match, held at Sydney Olympic Park’s Ken Rosewall Arena, saw Liang and Wang dominate the first set 21-12 before closing out the second set 21-17, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) match report. The Chinese pair’s strong net play and aggressive smashes overwhelmed their opponents, who were competing in their first BWF World Tour event together.

Wang Chang, 22, and Liang Weikeng, 23, are part of China’s rising men’s doubles contingent, having reached the quarterfinals at the 2022 Thailand Open. Their victory in Sydney marked their first tournament of the 2023 season, following a break after the Tokyo Olympics.

Why the win matters for China’s badminton program

The Chinese men’s doubles team has struggled to maintain dominance in recent years, with their last major title coming at the 2017 Indonesia Open. The performance by Liang and Wang in Sydney signals potential for resurgence, according to BWF analyst Chen Wei.

“This victory demonstrates the depth of China’s men’s doubles development,” Chen said in a statement. “Their ability to control rallies and execute precise drop shots against a local pairing shows they’re ready for higher-level competition.”

The win also provides crucial ranking points for the duo, who currently hold the 18th and 21st positions in the BWF men’s doubles rankings. A strong run in Sydney could elevate their standing ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifiers.

Key moments from the match

The first set was marked by Liang and Wang’s aggressive net approach, which forced Huang and Zhang into unforced errors. The Chinese pair converted three of four game points in the opening set, according to the BWF’s real-time scoring data.

In the second set, the Australians attempted to disrupt the rhythm with unorthodox shot selections, including a series of high clears. However, Liang and Wang maintained composure, winning the final four points to clinch the match.

The match lasted 42 minutes, with Liang recording 12 winners and Wang 10, according to the tournament’s shot-tracking system. Huang and Zhang combined for 15 unforced errors, per the official match statistics.

What’s next for the Chinese pair

Liang and Wang will face the winners of the match between Indonesia’s Fajar Alfidu and Muhammad Rizki, and Thailand’s Kantaphon Angkhan and Suppawat Tepthong in the second round, according to the official draw. The winners of that match will meet the top-seeded Japanese pair of Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Hoshino in the quarterfinals.

The duo’s next opponent, Fajar Alfidu, has a career record of 12-8 against Chinese players, according to the BWF database. Their last encounter came at the 2022 Singapore Open, where Alfidu and Rizki lost in the semifinals to Liang and Wang’s partners at the time.

Context for the Australian Open

The 2023 Australian Open, held from June 6-11, features a $350,000 prize pool and is part of the BWF World Tour Super 500 series. The men’s doubles event includes 32 teams, with the top 16 seeds receiving byes into the second round.

This year’s tournament marks the third consecutive edition held in Sydney, following a 2021 relocation from Melbourne due to pandemic restrictions. The venue, which hosted the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has a capacity of 5,000 spectators, according to the BWF’s official venue information.

How to follow the tournament

Live scores and match highlights are available on the BWF’s official website and mobile app. Fans can also follow the tournament on social media using the hashtag #AustralianOpen2023. The final will be broadcast on ESPN in the United States and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.

For real-time updates, follow the official tournament account on X (formerly Twitter) @BWF_Tournament. The next match for Liang and Wang is scheduled for June 12 at 3:00 PM local time (15:00 UTC).

Call to Action: Share your thoughts on Liang and Wang’s performance in the comments section below. Follow @BWF_Tournament for live updates from Sydney.