MD - Day 2: European Resistance

The Men’s Doubles draw offered quite some amazing performances in the stade Pierre de Coubertin. “The Minions” had to fight more than expected but managed to stay alive! Some Europeans players are also still fighting for their chances to go far in the tournament.

EASY OPENING MATCH

The world n°3, LI Jun Hui/LUI YU Chen made quite a good season from the beginning, counting 6 semifinals in important tournaments. Today, they faced a pair representing Europe, Mathias BAY-SMIDT/Lasse MOLHEDE, world n°56. The entire match was a one-way one. The Danish couldn’t find a way to attack or to impose their game at some point. Their opponent was way to good and made less easy mistakes, what cost them the match. The Chinese prevailed in 29min, 21-13, 21-11.

WORLD N°1 STILL ALIVE

« The minions », world n°1, very famous here, arrived in Paris after some amazing results. Indeed, they won the Bibli Indonesia Open, Yonex Japan Open, Victor China Open, and more recently the Danisa Denmark Open. They are usually quite successful in Paris. Last year men’s doubles finalists, they wouldn’t aim for less. For their first round, they faced the Chinese Di Zi Jian/WANG Chang and what a struggle it was! They lost the first game 21-19. But they quickly reacted back and took the 2nd game 21-11. They managed to finish the match and progressed to the 2nd round. Tough first round for the world champions who fought for around 50min against Di Zi Jian/WANG Chang. Final score : 19-21, 21-11, 21-17.

EUROPEAN RESISTANCE

First meeting for Ben LANE/Sean VENDY and ATTRI Manu/REDDY B. Sumeeth. The Englishmen know how hard the draw can be, especially in a Super 750 tournament. Today, they managed to be by the winning side after prevailing over the Indians ATTRI Manu/REDDY B. Sumeeth, in straight games 21-19. Quite a tense 2nd game, with longer rallies and a close score. The Indians managed to be more aggressive and made their opponents doubt. They went to a decisive game during which the Englishmen prevailed, and conclude the match. Good win for the Europeans, who will try to continue on this path tomorrow. They gave the Europeans supporters something to cheer about. They will face another asian pair, LI Jun Hui/LIU Yu Chen from China, 3rd seed.

Same thing for the Danes Kim ASTRUP/Anders Shaarup RASMUSSEN who made it to the 2nd round after wining their match in front of a very cheering crowd. They won their opening round in straight games 22-20, 21-14 against the Japanese Takuro HOKI/Yugo Kobayashi, 8th seed.

OTHER MATCHES

The Malaysians Aaron CHIA/SOH Wooi Yik defeated the Koreans CHOI Solyu/SEO Seung Jae, in straight game 21-17, 21-15. They will face tomorrow the Danish Kim ASTRUP/Anders Skaarup RASMU or Takuro HOKI/Yugo Kobayashi.

The Indians Satwiksairaj RANKIRE/Chirag SHETTY prevailed over the Europeans Jelle MAAS/ROBIN TABELING in straight games 21-16 21-14. The rankings are respected and the men’s doubles world n°11 are into the second round after quite an easy match of half an hour.

The Japanese pair, Hirouki ENDO/Yuta WATANABE current world n°6 faced Marcus ELLIS/Chris LANDGRIDGE from England. Unfortunately for the European, it was a one-way match all along. The Japanse prevailed over their opponents 21-17 21-13.

Inoue/Kaneko from Japan were eager to win the 3-game epic rematch of the 2018 French Open Round 1.

Russia’s Ivanov/Sozonov pocketed the first set but the Japanese were mentally more solid and saved the critical match points in the second game as well the deciding game. Sozonov broke down and threw his racket at the end of the match. He get a yellow card. Inoue/Kaneko will face their fellows Endo/Watanabe.