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WGM’s weekend preview

Written by Ben Blaschke

It’s another huge weekend in sport but for many of our readers around Asia there is nothing bigger this week than the badminton World Championships in Denmark where Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei is looking to add the one title that has eluded him over the years. With China’s Lin Dan failing to qualify, Indonesia’s Simon Santoso struck down by dengue fever and Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana out injured, this is the Malaysian’s best chance in nine attempts. He began yesterday with a solid 21-11, 21-12 win over Korea’s Lee Dong Keun.

In tennis, the US Open got underway this week and as the big guns ease through the early rounds they’ll be starting to think of stepping up a gear heading into the second week. In the men’s Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Stanislas Wawrinka and Andy Murray were all first-up winners although Murray battled injury and cramp in his four-set victory and might struggle to emulate his heroics of two years ago.

The women’s also saw the big guns progress with Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Eugenie Bouchard and Simona Halep among the first round winners. A notable absentee, however, is China’s Li Na who continues to battle a knee injury.

The FedEx playoffs continue this week with the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston. Hunter Mahan leads the standing following last week’s win in the Barclays, ahead of Rory McIlroy, Jimmy Walker and Matt Kuchar but keep an eye on Sweden’s Henrik Stenson who won here last year and Australia’s Adam Scott who performed well at the Barclays.

There are a couple of big games in the EPL this week with Chelsea headed to Everton – where Arsenal slipped up last week – and Liverpool off to Tottenham in what looms as a potentially season-defining clash for both clubs. Manchester United face a tricky trip to Burnley as they continue their quest for a much needed win after being dumped out of the Capital One Cup by MK Dons mid-week.

And Italy’s Serie A is the latest of the European leagues to kick off this weekend with the opening weekend seeing Roma take on Fiorentina and AC Milan face Lazio in the pick of the matches.

Good luck and good punting.