A Royal Disaster Stuns Waldner

Even the presence of the King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden couldn’t help Jan-Ove Waldner defend his Olympic crown. Waldner, whose sore thumb had been front-page news for weeks back home, was eliminated in men’s singles, 21-15, 17-21, 21-16, 21-15, by Canada’s Johnny Huang, who advanced to the quarterfinals.

Waldner was knocked out of doubles Saturday night.

“I wasn’t playing up to normal but I can’t blame my injury,” Waldner said. “My backhand was a catastrophe.”

China’s Kong Linghui, the reigning world champion, also went out, losing to Kim Taek-soo of South Korea, 21-17, 21-18, 20-22, 21-12.