Badminton: Open closes out most Kiwi players

It wasn't a great day for Kiwis in singles at the New Zealand badminton open, with only John Moody and Renee Flavell gaining spots in their respective quarter-finals.

The Equinox US$50,000 event also lost its top seeds in both men's and women's singles. And the predicted match of the tournament between the defending champion and world No 17, Sairul Amar Ayob, and Singapore's Ronald Susilo, a former top 10 player on his way back from injury, didn't reach the expected heights.

The talented and seemingly always relaxed Susilo won the match 21-16, 21-13 in 37 minutes to set up a clash with Moody in the last eight.

Moody, 23, easily accounted for Australia's Jeff Tho, surpassing his third-round performance of last year. Moody has had good results recently and is not fazed about the reputation of his next opponent.

"I feel pretty good, just continuing good form after last week in Thailand. The match felt pretty good. Whoever I have to play I am comfortable with. Susilo is a top class player," said Moody.

Also winning were second seed Andrew Smith, of England, and fourth seed Bobby Milroy, who beat German Conrad Hueckstaedt in an epic battle, the second set finishing at 27-25.

In the women's draw, Flavell became the only New Zealander to reach the quarters by defeating Eva Ratanasena in straight games to set up a clash with fourth seed Aiying Xing, of Singapore, in what will be a difficult contest.

Rachel Hindley could not maintain her top seeding, finding the consistency of 114th-ranked Yoshimi Hataya too much, the Japanese player winning in straight games.

The tournament second seed, Sutheaswari Mudukansan, of Malaysia, also fell, losing to Chinese Taipei-Australian Chia-Chi Huang in straight games.

Former Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Li Li, of Singapore, accounted for New Zealand's Vina in straight games to face unseeded Japanese player Chie Umezu.

Other New Zealanders who fell in the third-round singles were Maggie Chan, Jessica Jonggowisastro and 15-year-old Melissa Leviana, who shows plenty of potential for the future.

In the men's doubles, Dan Shirley and Craig Cooper reached the quarter-finals, where they play a Taipei combination.

In the mixed draw, husband and wife Geoff and Rebecca Bellingham beat fellow Kiwis Cooper and Donna Cranston in straight games, and will play the third seeds, Americans Nicholas and Samantha Jinadasa.