XD - Day 2 : favorites on court !

All the 4 best mixed double pairs were on Paris courts today. Watanabe/Higashino, Smith/Ellis, Puavaranukroh/Taerattanachai and Jordan/Oktavianti all succeeded to qualify to next round.

WATANABE and HIGASHINO are not tired

The day began with the recent Danish Open winners Yuta WATANABE and Arisa HIGASHINO (N.4, Japan). The seeded number 3 were challenged by Rinov RIVALDY / Pitha Haningtyas MENTARI (N.21, Indonesia), not the easiest opponents after such a long week in Odense. After a nerve-racking start for both sides, the Japanese were ahead at the break 11/7. They kept the attack all the second part of the set. Thus, the first set was won 21/12 in 13 minutes. The second game started differently from the first one. The world number 21 decided to change tactics and played more drop shots to take back the attack. It worked because they were ahead 11/7 at the interlude. However, the Olympic bronze medalists put back some speed in the rallies and passed their challengers 13/12. They stayed ahead until the gain of the second set 21/16. WATANABE seemed happy after the win : “We love the place here. Victory last week gave us confidence. So we hope we can go for another title”. Their next round will be against HOO and CHEAH from Malaysia.

ELLIS and SMITH to round 2

Right after the epic battle between MOMOTA and KIDAMBI, the seeded number 4 Lauren SIMTH and Marcus ELLIS (N.7, England) were on to court to try to get their ticket to round 2. Their opponents Mark LAMSFUSS and Isabel LOHAU (N.14, Germany) are one of the “worst” draw the vice European champions could get. It was the case during a very tight first set, even though, the English team took it 21/18. Same story in the second one, a lot of speed in the rallies. The world number 7 were largely ahead. Even though the German pair saved 3 match points. After the match, Marcus ELLIS and Lauren SMITH were satisfied : “We came away from Denmark very frustrated. This week we really wanted it to do ourselves justice. Today we found the level that we know we can play.”. Tomorrow, they will be facing Boje and Christensen from Denmark.

Meanwhile, the seeded number 1, Dechapol PUAVARANUKROH / Sapsiree TAERATTANACHAI (N.4, Thailand) were facing Jones Ralfy JANSEN and Linda EFLER (Germany). The German did a great start and were leading at the interlude. However, points after points the world number 3 came back to pass their opponents at the very end of the set : 21/18. The world tour finales winner kept the pressure in the second set and left no chance to the Europeans. Bottom line : 21/12. They seemed released after the victory : “We like playing here. We set was tough be we came back after the 11 interlude. We fixed the problems and it was fine afterwards”. Tomorrow they will face a Dutch team.

JORDAN/OKTAVIANTI quick and clean

Last of pair of the “Big 4” to play, Praveen JARDAN and Melati DAHEVA OKTAVIANTI (N.5, Indonesia) were facing CHENG tan Jie and PECK Yen Wei (N.49, Malaysia). After saving two set points, the 2020 All England winners took the first set 22/20. The next set was as tough as the first one but the Indonesian’s experience empowered them to win it 21/19. They will be opposed to an Indian pair tomorrow.

Qualifications of Satwiksairaj RANKIREDDY/Ashwini PONNAPPA (India), Nicolas NORH/Amalie Magelund (Denmark), Supak JOMKOH/Supissara PAEWSAMPRAN (Thailand), Mathias CHRISTIANSEN/Alexandra BOJE (Denmark)