A nice first day of competition

Today was the beginning of the French Open in Paris. A tournament that is part of the greatest international circuit of badminton. After a whole day of qualifications, we now know all the players that will compete in the round 16. Let’s focus on the French players here.

Qualifications day is intensive: 4 courts at the same time. From 10am up to 8pm, players will give everything to continue the competition. After that, begins the first round of mixed players until 10pm.

Earlier today, the young mixed pair Tom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue played against another French player Emilie Lefel associated with the Dutch Jille. The French public offered them such a warm welcome! It needed 3 sets to reveal the winner: Emilie Lefel and Ruben Jille are the one who came victorious of this match. (21-19 21-16) That pair seemed to play well associated together. This has given a nice start for the French Open.

During their second match of qualification, they faced the Thai pair Chochuwong/Isryanet. A close match ended by a score of 21-12 19-21 21-19. Emilie Lefel only kept the positive out of it. “We didn’t start the match the way we wanted. Then the 3rd set was close until the very end. It was a good match even if we’re of course disappointed to loose.” She said after her match.

Let’s focus on the match of Thomas Rouxel against the Hongkonger Lee Cheuk Yiu. Thomas appeared on court looking in good shape. Indeed, he has been leading most of the points. This winning is positive for him. “I’m satisfied of my game today. I’m going to recover and prepare myself for the next match”. For his second match of qualifications, Thomas played against the German Kai Schaefer. It was a tough match with a close score but the french crowd was present. Indeed, the french player enjoyed the support the public has shown. Score : 24-22 21-19.

At the same time, another French played on the Men single draw: Pierrick Cajot. Indeed, he said to us that he found out that he was playing few days ago. “Only bonus for me. I didn’t prepare well for the French Open actually” Pierrick didn’t find a way to be better than his opponent. He has made lot of direct faults which put him in a disadvantage. No matter that, he is willing to do better next time and expressed to us the pleasure he had to play here in Paris.

The next one was Lucas Corvée, one of the best French single player. He had such a warm welcome by the French crowd. He was playing against the Scottish Kieran Merrilees. During the 1st set, it seemed that he was leading almost all points: his opponent made lots of direct faults. The French player qualified himself pretty easily (21-12 21-14)

The first woman player to start the day was Manon Krieger with the single draw. The public has shown such a great support to her since the beginning. Tense, she lost the first set. It seemed that she didn’t find the way to play her game the way she expected. With a difficult beginning she manage to win the 2nd set. Unfortunately, it was not enough as her opponent won the 3rd set. Final score: 21-17 17-21 21-9.

Delphine Lansac began her day against the Spanish Clara Azurmendi. The French player seemed in good shape, determined to win her first match of qualifications. Her opponent made more faults, it actually helped Delphine to improve her game: She won the 1st set 21-15. The Spanish player seemed to have changed her play: she managed to win the 2nd set. The 3rd one was not tight at all. Delphine used all the support of the crowd to push herself as she said. She won the match playing a good badminton: 21-15 19-21 21-12

Her second match was against the Canadian Micelle Li. A tough opponent for the French player because of her ranking and her experience. Of course both players want to reach the principal draw. Today, this is the French player, Delphine Lansac that came victorious. The crowd must have help her to keep calm and play good. Indeed, she expressed the pleasure she has every time she finds herself playing in front of a French public. Score: 17-21 21-17 21-12. Our French players are on fire! So is the French public.

The French pair, Tom Gicquel and Ronan Labar had faced the Magee brothers during their first match of qualifications and managed to impose their game at the very beginning. That way, they won the match in 2 sets. 21-11 24-22. After that, they were ready for the second match of qualifications. They met, the Korean pair Hyuk Gyun Choi and Park Kyung Hoon. After a tensed match, the French players qualified for the next round (12/21 21/18 21/19)

Bastian Kersaudy and Julien Maio are the other pair of men doubles. Like their peers Labar and Gicquel, they won their first match of qualifications 21-13 23-21. Second match of qualification phase, they managed to win in 2 sets with long rallies. As the score illustrates, it was actually a close match. 21-19 22-20.