Horsens (Denmark), May 3 -- Defending champion China will face first-time finalist Francein the Thomas Cup final after both teams recorded straight-sets victories in the semifinals here,setting up a clash between a traditional powerhouse and an emerging European contender.
World champion and world No. 1 Shi Yuqi gave China the perfect start with a dominant 21-16, 21-5 win over world No. 3 Anders Antonsen in just 44 minutes on Saturday.
Shi, who missed the last two group matches due to acute gastroenteritis, said he had almost recovered.
"Missing two group matches gave me time to rest, which turned out to be an advantage. What really helped me was staying focused and being determined to give my team a 1-0 lead," saidthe 30-year-old.
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