WS - Day 2: The favorites prevailed

CLOSE RANKINGS BUT EASY MATCH

First encounter between the two girls, AN Se Young and Busanan ONGBAMRUNGPH for the opening round of the French Open. Since the very beginning of the match, they offer the crowd (timid crowd at this time) some amazing rallies. The Korean player managed to play more precisely and went ahead in the score (7-3) Her opponent made quite some easy mistakes even if it seemed that she was doing the game. Despite an amazing fighting spirit from the Thai, she couldn’t score a point from 9-8 to 18-9, loosing the first game, 21-10. The following game was quite similar. The AN Se Young was playing better at every corners of the court but most of all, making way less mistakes than her opponent. Everything went pretty fast afterwards, leading 14-5. In the end, the Korean aptly imposed herself, 21-10, 21-12 after 40mn of play.

COMPATRIOT FIGHTS

Playing against peers is not always easy. No coaches to give advices, and you play against the ones you train with everyday. It was the case for two women’s singles matches today.

Former world n°1 Akane Yamaguchi, who is also the 2017 French Open champion, played against her peer Sayaka Takahashi. Despite the same style of playing, Akane Yamaguchi was way better at every stages. She took the first game in 12min, 21-12.

8-2 for Akane, her opponent falls on the ground, asking for a medical time-out. She chose to continue but it seemed that she physically not at her best. Akane was playing very safe and precise at this point, making her move to every corners of the court. She won the match 21-12, 21-17.

Not the same scenario on this one! Pronpawee CHOCHUWON took the first game 22-20 over her peer Nitchaon JINDAPOL. She led 11-8 at the second game’s break. The following points was pretty fast. Pornpawee was easily leading, scoring points after points. This is the first time she won a match against her peer. They met in tournament already and she has lost the both of their previous encounters. Final score : 22-20, 21-17

ASIA PREVAILED

After having the pleasure to play the World Championship in home soil, Sabrina Jacquet arrived in Paris willing to go as far as possible, knowing the French Open welcomed the best players in the world. For the opening round, she had to fight against the Chinese CHEN Xiao Xin, world n°21. In the first game, she managed to keep up with her opponent but had to leave her the first game 21-15. The Chinese is without any doubt a player to follow. Among others, she has beaten Ratchanok Intanon earlier this year, at the previous All England. The 21 year old Chinese was stronger against the European Sabrina Jacquet who could not find the keys to make her doubt. Despite a good fight, Sabrina Jacquet won’t be representing Europe tomorrow, after loosing 21-15, 21-11 to CHEN Xiao Xin.
 

THE YOUNG GENERATIONS PROGRESSING

First encounter between the two girls, Fritriani FITRIANI and Neslihan YIGIT. The Indonesian prevailed at the beginning and managed to take the first game 21-17. The world n°29 found a way to imposed her game and her opponent seemed without solution. The twenty year old Indonesian is a player to follow in the future, looking at her performances of the last couple of months. She had a good fight against Tai Tzu Ying in opening round at the previous World Championships in Basell. Today, prevailed over the player from Turkey, Neslihan YIGIT (world n°37) in straight games, 21-17, 21-12.

EASY MATCHES FOR TOP PLAYERS

The finalist of the 2019 Danisa Denmark Open Nozomi OKUHARA made her entrance on court. The Japanse faced a player from China world n°14, named HAN Yue. For her opening round here in Paris, Nozomi played lucid and calm. She won her match in straight games, 21-15, 21-11.

The week of competition is long and spending less time as possible on court is important to be ready for the next round. Her next challenge will be pretty huge! Indeed, tomorrow, we’ll have the pleasure to watch her play against Carolina Marin. Both girls know each other pretty well, and we can expect a great fight.

The Indian with two world medals and an amazing prize list Saina NEWHAL, arrived in Paris! Last year quarterfinalist seemed in great condition today. She has been at the top for a very long time, since 2009. And she wants more! Indeed, today she won her match 23-21, 21-17 over CHEUNG Ngan Yi from Hong Kong, in 42min. The world n°9 showed that the experience prevailed this time. She will face the Dane Line Hojmark KJAERS for a spot in quarterfinals tomorrow. Will she go further than last year?

Also an easy match for the current n°7, HE Bing Jiao. She defeated Gregoria Mariska Tunjung from Indonesia in two games, 21-12, 21-18 after 34min of play. Though, she showed some back problems during the match, with a quick medical time-out. We hope this is nothing to worry about. She will face another Indonesian player, the twenty year old Fritriani Fritriani in 2nd round.

TOP PLAYER STRUGGLES

The current world n°1, Tai Tzu Ying played her first match of the 2019 French Open against the German LI Yivonne today. The German lost the first game pretty fast 21-7 but found a way to make her opponent doubt, because even the world n°1 has failures! Not always easy to be the greatest. She found a way to bring Tai Tzu Ying to a decisive game after taking the 2nd one, 21-13!

But we are talking about last year finalist and she took thing over control and finished the match with a final score of 21-7, 13-21, 21-12.
 

EUROPEAN RESISTANCE

The Dane, Line Hojmark KJAERS, world n°27 disputed her match against the Japanese Aya OHORI today. The first game was quite tense and could have gone either way but the Japanese prevailed 21-19. The following points were decisive for the Dane. Line hasn’t made it to the 2nd round of an important tournament since couple of months. She showed an amazing fighting spirit on court today. As an European, she had the crowd behind her. In tournament like Paris, the public always supports the Europeans first, because we all know they are not many at final stages. Line managed take things under control after the loss of the 1st game. She played much more aggressive and it worked ! She won the 2nd game 21-14 to bring her opponent to a decisive game. In the end, the Dane imposed herself, helped by the crowd to conclude the match with a final score of 19-21, 21-14, 21-19.