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Chris and Gabby Adcock endure semi-final heartache in Dubai

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 01:  Chris Adcock of England plays a forehand while playing with his partner Gabrielle Adcock of England as they compete in thei
Image: Chris Adcock: Endured a disappointing defeat

Chris and Gabby Adcock suffered a semi-final defeat against China’s world No 1 pair at the BWF Destination Dubai World Superseries Finals.

England's top mixed doubles duo, who ended 2014 as world No 6, were comprehensively beaten in the semis by Nan Zhang and Yunlei Zhao 21-9 21-12.

But the end of their tournament - they reached the BWF Finals last four for the first time - had been blighted by a chest infection to Gabby.

Pete Jeffrey, Badminton England's national coach, said: "Gabby had nothing more to give today. She is really struggling with the chest infection and finding it hard to breathe on court.

"She has performed amazingly well this week despite being ill and I feel that just shows her character and her desire to reach the very top in her sport."

The Chinese world and Olympic champions had already beaten the Adcocks in the round robin stage and were in no mood to stop their unbeaten run as they raced to Sunday's final in 36 minutes.

They opened up a 13-3 lead in the opener and never seemed likely to relinquish their advantage.

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In the second, the Adcocks were behind 8-5 before Zhang and Zhao forged a sizeable advantage at 15-6. There was a brief resurgence by the English pair when they picked up five consecutive points, but Zhang and Zhao held on.

Defeat for the Adcocks was their third of the week. They qualified for the semi-finals following a nervous wait on Friday after a superb win over Germany's Michael Fuchs and Birgit Michels in their last group game.

Jeffrey added: "Reaching the semi-finals despite these challenges shows tremendous progression and both Chris and Gabby have full belief that they can beat the Chinese again soon."

Zhang and Zhao later took just 41 minutes to beat Chinese compatriots Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin 21-15 21-12 in the final.

China's world champion Chen Long won the men's singles title at the World Superseries Finals, brushing past Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark 21-16 21-10 in just 47 minutes.

Taiwan's Tai Tzu Ying claimed the women's title with a 21-17 21-12 win over South Korea's Sung Ji-hyun.

Japan's Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi handed China their first defeat in a major final in women's doubles for over a year by beating world champions Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei 21-17 21-14.

South Korea's Lee Yong-dae and Yoo Yeon-seong claimed the men's doubles by beating China's Chai Biao and Hong Wei 19-21 21-19 21-16.

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