Chris and Gabby Adcock claim silver in World Superseries Finals
BySportsbeat
Updated 18/12/2016 at 16:22 GMT
Chris and Gabby Adcock were forced to settle for silver in their year-ending World Superseries Finals in Dubai after losing their gold-medal match to Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen.
England's Gabrielle Adcock (aka Gabby Adcock) plays a shot during the mixed doubles with her husband Chris Alcock
Image credit: PA Photos
The Adcocks had been defending champions after tasting victory last year, but found the No.4 seeds a challenge too far, losing 21-12 21-12 in the mixed doubles final.
The Chinese pair quickly raced into a 6-2 lead in the first set, though the 2014 Commonwealth gold medallists rallied back to keep themselves in the opener, just one point adrift at the halfway stage.
But a Zheng and Chen blitz saw them take seven points in eight, including four in succession, to take a stranglehold in the contest, going on to wrap up the first game in 15 minutes.
That continued what has been a one-sided head-to-head record between the two pairs, 5-0 in their favour, taking the first points of the second game, too.
It was to get worse for the Adcocks, with their Chinese counterparts once again delivering an impressive burst to make the difference, Zheng and Chen winning five points in a row to go 7-1 ahead.
But the Great Britain pair – who had knocked out the world No.4s Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto to reach the final – battled back, some encouraging strokeplay keeping them in touch.
Yet it proved too little, too late for the No.5 seeds, with Zheng and Chen – who have had a six months to remember after coming close to exiting the top 50 back in July – ramming home their advantage to take the win in straight games.
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