World BWF official website recently wrote an article to praise Huang Yaqiong / Zheng Siwei , the world's number one mixed doubles combination, and it is optimistic that they will replicate their crazy performance in the past year in the new season.
In the year-end ranking list of the 2018 season, the "IELTS" combination firmly ranked first, and the two of them became the only player to top the list in the five major events. Since Huang Yaqiong and Zheng Siwei's fixed partnership in 2017, they have rarely made mistakes in major competitions. They not only won the remaining three games of the 2017 season, but also continued this sweep to the 2018 season. The IELTS group has reached the finals 12 times in the past year and won the mixed doubles championships of the World Championships and the Asian Games .
British doubles player Marcus Ellis believes that there is still a considerable gap between ordinary players and IELTS combinations. "There is a reason why they can become the best doubles combination in the world. Whether you lead 3 or 4 points in the game, they will soon find a way to overtake 3 or 4 points. This makes it difficult for you to fight back."
His partner Lauren ·Smith said: "I think their offense is very clean and neat. Huang Yaqiong is very strong in front of the net. Efficient blocking of the net puts great pressure on the opponent. She and Zheng Siwei never leave anyone with any chance to get points easily. Even when receiving serve points, they handle it very carefully. And they have established an invincible impression among the players. When you face the world's number one, you are always in awe."
Smith also pointed out the key to the ever-winning pair - speed and tacit understanding. "Huang Yaqiong only needs one or two shots in front of the net to end the battle, and then Zheng Siwei will take over all the remaining backcourt balls. Huang Yaqiong's ability in front of the net is so good. Her speed is very fast, and it is really difficult to break through her blockade." Smith commented. Malaysia mixed doubles Wu Shunfa/Lai Jiemin also agrees with Smith's evaluation, believing that the speed of the IELTS combination is indeed difficult to guard against. Lai Jiemin said: "She is as stable as Mount Tai in front of the Internet and never makes mistakes. So she always feels under great pressure to face her."
Whether Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong can continue their rule to the 2019 season is an exciting highlight. Currently, those who are expected to challenge them in the new Olympic cycle are not only compatriots Wang Yilu /Huang Dongping, but also Watanabe Yuda/Hiyoshi Higashino from Japan, and three other pairs who have defeated them last season - Malaysian Chen Bingshun /Wu Liuying, Indonesian combination Ahmed/Nasir and Deng Junwen/Xie Yingxue from Hong Kong, China. However, it is reported that Nasir has planned to retire, and Deng Junwen will also form another team in the first two events of this year, so the challenges they can bring to the combination of Huang Yaqiong and Zheng Siwei will be very limited. (Reprinted from Sina Kansou)
