Qualifying rounds to YONEX-SUNRISE Hong Kong Open have been played in Hong Kong Coliseum since Tuesday morning local time, followed by some first-round matches in mixed doubles.
The Danish constellations of Line Kjærsfeldt/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen and Sara Thygesen/Niclas Nøhr are through to the main draw at Hong Kong Open, as both won their qualifying rounds.
Thygesen and Nøhr missed the opportunity last week in China, but made it through the qualifications and all the way to the quarter-final, in their comeback tournament Denmark Open.
Niclas Nøhr and men’s doubles partner Kasper Antonsen were not far from qualifying in the doubles category as well, but Chai and Wang from China ended up as victors after three sets; 15-21, 27-25, 21-8.
Surprised to be in the qualification
- It feels good to be in the main draw. We were originally not even on the list of reserves and did not expect to even be a part of the qualification, Kjærsfeldt says to Badminton Europe.
- I don’t have any expectations to the next match. They are a good pair that has done really well. They are on home turf so I just hope that it will be a nice match where we can take a lot with us to build on. If it will be enough for a victory, time will tell.
Kjærsfeldt and Skaarup made it into the main draw in China Open last, as well, and, made it into the final in Bitburger Open Grand Prix Gold. Kjærsfeldt feels that they are improving match for match, but still underlines that they are a new pair that is still getting to know each other on court.
European XD in R1
Four European mixed doubles were playing their first rounds on this day, and two of them unfortunately faced each other in this round.
It was the reigning European champions Gabrielle and Chris Adcock of England versus Mathias Christiansen and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark; 12-21, 19-21. The Danes got a great start and took the lead early in the set, and the English were never able to catch up in the second.
Furthermore, two German mixed doubles followed the European trend and won their first rounds. Marvin Emil Seidel and Linda Efler won against Lee and Hsu, while Mark Lamsfuss and Isabel Herttrich beat the second seeds Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto.