Mixt Doubles – Day 1: Small fright for Zheng/Zhou

It is always difficult to keep a won title at the Yonex French Open. The favourites and solid leaders Zhen Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong faced outsiders who really challenged them. They eventually confirmed their champion status and joined the other pairs, including some European pairs in the second round.

Japan’s Watanabe/Higashino, seeded number 3, are one of the outsiders at the French Open. After a counter performance in Denmark last week against the young French pair Delrue/Gicquel, the silver medalist pair at the worlds, Japan’s Watanabe/Higashino moved through the next round here in Paris. They defeated the Russian pair Alimov/Davletova in 3 games (21-10 19-21 21-15).

They will face the Dutch pair Tabeling/Piek who reached the quarter finals in Basel at the Worlds in August.

“It was a tight game all the way.”

The Dutch went through a nervous battle to get their ticket for the next round.

“They didn’t really want to play the rally. They really went all in on their combination. It was a tight game all the way. We are happy at least we won it.” Robin Tabeling said after the match.

They recently confirmed that they are one of the best mixte doubles pair at the European level during the Dutch Open. Their next match will be an opportunity to pursue their serious European contender status. They already beat the Japanese early this year at the German Open.

“We take one match at a time I know by the draw we are facing Watanabe/Higashnio. We have nothing to lose. We’ll go all in” Selena Piek mentioned.

“It’s definitely a boosting confidence”

Lane/Pugh is the other European pair to go through the first round. They defeated Thailand’s Phuangphuapet/Amitrapai in two straight games (21-19 21-16)

“We had a plan before the match that we executed really well” said Ben Lane.

“We knew it was going to be a long game and we had to play 50 shots maybe every rally to win. I think we actually stayed a bit more disciplined in the longer rallies.”

“We are really happy to win. It’s definitely a boosting confidence at such a big tournament. We just continue the preparation to the next match” Jessica Pugh added.

Zheng/Huang found themselves up against Malaysian WR 11 unsuspected challengers

The crowd witnessed the surprising battle between the uncontested favourites – China's Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong against the Malaysian pair Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie, world ranked 11. The H2H record (3-0) seemed to show that the Malaysian failed to decode the double world champion’s game. But against all odds, Gog/Lai took the lead and forced the Chinese to concede the opening game. After unrelenting rallies during a very tight second game, the French Open 2019 winners succeeded in resetting the counters. They moved to a 18-7 advantage in the deciding game. Despite ultimate winning points of the Malaysian pair, the Chinese progressed to the next round (19-21 21-19 21-15).

The Irish Chloe and Sam Magee lost an opportunity to secure vital points in the Olympics qualification. They lost against Chang/Ng (21-19 21-15).

Indonesia’s Faizal/Widjaja, seeded number 8, advanced to the next round with victory over the Japanese pair Kaneko/Matsumoto in two straight games (21-15 21-17).

See all the results here.