DX - Day 2: Experience and solid preparation required

The last matches of the first round of the mixte doubles draw revealed the key assets for the French Open quest. Only the best prepared and experienced pairs were able to progress to the final stages.

Solid Hoki/Nagahara overcame determined Seidel/Efler

German’s Seidel/Efler were more than ready before facing Japan’s Hoki/Nagahara. The encounter was a rematch of the French Open 2018 edition during which the Japanese defeated the Germans.

The opening game set the pace with tight rallies. The crowd felt the intensity of the pressure on court. Each pair saved game points until 24-22 in favor of the Europeans. Was it time for revenge?

Hoki/Nagahara answered this question by winning the next 2 games in an intense atmosphere. In the deciding game, Seidel/Efler saved two match points to come back at 20-19 but the Japanse secured the next one. They booked a second-round meeting with another German pair Lamsfuss/Herttrich who defeated Ellis/Smith, world ranked number 10, from England (21-17 21-15).

Only one English pair in round 2

Between the two English pairs coached by Joachim Fischer, former Danish famous champion with Christina Pedersen, only one survived and progressed through the draw. Mentally strong and inspired, the Adcocks disposed of India’s Chopra/Reddy in 2 straight games (21-13 21-18).

Their next opponents are the Korean fourth-seeded pair Seo/Chae who also beat the other Indian pair Rankireddy/Ponnapppa 21-17 21-18

Will Danish Open winners be additional outsiders for the French Open?

After winning the Danish Open last week, Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti from Indonesia were on track to pretend to the French Open trophy. They get the better of Hong Kong’s Tang/Tse in 2 straight games 21-17 21-15.

World Ranked number 4, Puavaranukroh/Taerattanachai were quite untroubled against the surprising French pair Gicquel/Delrue who upset the WR 3 Watanabe/Higashino last week in Odense at the Danish Open. But despite the strong support of the crowd, it was not possible for the young French pair to bypass the experience of the Thai players who moved to the next after a 2 straight-game victory 21-17 21-18.

See all the results of the mixte doubles raw here.

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