WD - First round- This year’s French Open is meant to be satisfying

Some may still wondering if their favorite world best badminton players are coming to Paris this year. You are hereby informed: they are here. Quite a few have freshly finished Denmark Open, they seem pretty busy on their schedule but how can they miss the annual badminton feast in Paris ?

Apriyani RAHAYU/ Siti Fadia Silva RAMADHANTI (n°7 INA) vs Pearly TAN / THINAAH Muralitharan

One of the toughest matches of this first day was offered by the two pairs from Malaysia and Indonesia. The rising stars TAN and THINAAH amazed the badminton world with their jump smash skills while the Indonesian new pair was determined to fight for their glory. The Olympic champion RAHAYU never disappointed her fans, with her newly paired-up partner RAMADHANTI, they didn’t stop their ascension towards the world’s Women’s Doubles top level.

Their previous head-to-head record: 1/1, the suspense was set right before the new fight. 12/7, the Indonesians did not have enough time to sit on their lead before the Malaysians fired back. 23 minutes later and the first game was still going ... TAN / THINAAH’s powerful attacks really help them pull the string over: 22/20. The young Malaysians finally put an end to the first set. The second game was by far any easier compared to the first one... the score stayed glued until the very last point 21/19 the Indonesians succeeded their second game... “I’ve just been back from my injuries, but I am more than happy to play with my partner.” said TAN after the match. “Yes, we really fought hard for the victory, but glad we won the game.” added her partner THINAAH.

Rin IWANAGA / Kie NAKANISHI vs SUPISSARA PAEWSAMPRAN / Puttita SUPAJIRAKUL

This was the first match between the two pairs, both were eager to prevail in the head-to-head. Both pairs activated their full-energy mode since the first point. The scores were kept close between the opponents. 21/19, the Thai took the first set into their pockets.

At the second game, the first-set winners decided to take no risk towards their opponents. 21/10, the final score announced loud the next entrance for the Thai players.

Jongkolphan KITITHARAKUL / Rawinda PRAJONGJAI vs Treesa JOLLY / Gayatri Gopichand PULLELA

Seeded number 6 for this year’s French Open, the Thai sisters surely did not seem to give their ticket away. 23/21 for the first set. They managed to maintain their good performances through the second game. The Indian players amazed the audience with some nice shots but there’s no doubt the world number 6 wanted their victory bad. Another tought game 22/20, the world’s ranking was respected in this battle.

Others matches of the day, Clara AZURMENDI / Beatriz CORRALES (ESP) lost to Alexandra BOJE / Amalie MAGELUND (DEN) 12/21, 9/21. Indonesian pair Febriana Dwipuji KUSUMA / Amalia Cahaya PRATIWI won against their German opponents Stine KUESPERT / Emma MOSZCZYNSKI 21/18, 9/21,13/21. The World Number 3 pair MATSUYAMA and SHIDA (Japan) did not want to fight a long battle against their opponents: 21/12 for the first game, 21/13 for the second. The Japanese, LEE/SHIN (Korea) safely put the ticket for next round into their pockets.