# Chong Wei to face Frenchman Leverdez in second round
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After suffering first round exits in the Denmark and French Open former world number one Lee Chong Wei got off to a relatively easy first round win in the USD700,000 Tahoe China Open Superseries Premier in Fuzhou, China on Wednesday.
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The 35-year-old Malaysian hardly raised a sweat in his 21-5, 21-7 win over Hsu Jen Hao of Chinese Taipei at the Haixia Olympic Sports Center – completing his task in only 25 minutes.Â
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However, Chong Wei will have to keep his nerves and composure in the second when he faces Frenchman Brize Leverdez – the man who knocked him out in the World Championships in Glasgow in August.
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The defeat had a domino effect on Chong Wei – falling at the first hurdle in the Denmark and French Open superseries.
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It is left to be seen if Chong Wei would be able to ride on his momentum to exact revenge on the Frenchman.
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While Chong Wei stayed alive it was curtains for Lin Dan. The Chinese legend was chopped down in straight games in the first round – going down to Indonesian youngster Jonatan Christie 19-21, 16-21 in a 42 minute match.
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Olympic champion Chen Long, however, kept China’s flag flying in the men’s singles with a 21-15, 21-12Â in 53 minutes.
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Thai ace Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk scraped through a 72-minute thriller to subdue Danish hope Hans Kristian Vittinghus 12-21, 21-19, 24-22. –BY RIZAL ABDULLAHÂ
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SELECTED FIRST ROUND RESULTS
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MEN’S SINGLES
Lee Chong Wei (Mas) beat Hsu Jen Hao (Tpe) 21-5, 21-7
Jonatan Christie (Ina) beat Lin Dan (Chn) 21-9, 21-16
Brice Leverdez (Fra) beat Sourabh Verma (Ind) 21-14, 15-21, 21-11
Angus Ng Ka Long (Hkg) beat Anthony Ginting (Ina) 22-20, 21-18
Chen Long (Chn) beat Vincent Wong Wing Ki (Hkg) 21-15, 21-12
Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (Tha) beat Hans Kristian Vittinghus (Den)12-21, 21-19, 24-22