Mads Conrad-Petersen and Mads Pieler-Kolding of Denmark have the pleasure of facing their fellow country men Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen in the quarterfinal of Japan Open, on Friday.
The first mentioned pair were in control in their match against Korean Kim/Seo in Round 2:
- Today, we were playing really well and with great movement. We kept our error rate low and then I must say that we are a better pair than them, Conrad tells Badminton Europe.
- We had a great defense which made it hard for them to finish the rallies, while when we had the offence it was much easier for us to break through. Overall, I think we were in control from beginning to end.
Rematch from Korea Open
The two Danish pairs hold the pace from last week where they faced each other in the quarter-final at Korea Open. Boe and Mogensen ended up as victors; 21-19, 22-20.
- We played a close match in Korea where the tiny margins decided the matter.
- Normally, there would be a lot a tactical stuff we would have to prepare for, but when we are facing Boe and Mogensen it is only a few tactical things and then a lot of mental preparation.
Worlds’ best
It is his opponent’s mental skills that, according to him, makes them the best in the world.
- We are happy to get more matches against them because it means that it we are continuously getting further in the tournaments.
- But of course, we would rather travel to Asia to face them in a final than in a quarter-final.
6 Europeans in the quarter-finals
Reigning world champion, Viktor Axelsen will face India’s Srikanth Kidambi, in his first tournament since Glasgow. While Carolina Marin went past Saina Nehwal in two sets, and the Spanish world star has Akane Yamaguchi
Besides the show-down between Conrad/Kolding and Boe/Mogensen, Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen are also through for Friday, where the runner-ups from Korea Open, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo waits.
World champions Cheng Liu and Nan Zhang from China was sent packing after Russia’s Ivan Sozonov and Vladimir Ivanov took them down with the score 24-22 in the deciding set.
Find the schedule for the quarter-finals of Japan Open
here.