Stefani and Gabriela Stoeva played their first match at the 2018 YONEX German Open earlier on Wednesday. The sisters needed the scare of losing the first game to pull themselves together and work hard for the victory.
A 18-15-lead turned into a 21-23-defeat for the Bulgarian sisters in the first game against Hsu and Wu from Chinese Taipei.
- I think we made to many mistakes in the end. We were leading at 18-15 and we lost our focus a little bit and I think that is why we lost the game, Stefani said to Badminton Europe after the match.
In the second and third games, Stefani Stoeva explained that the match got more physical and that they fought hard for each point.
Stress took over in the second game
The Bulgarians had trouble closing the second game after working hard to earn their first game point. Even though having a 20-8-lead, the game concluded at 21-13.
- I think it was because we only needed that one point and then we got stressed. When you have such a big lead, it is easy to lose focus, Gabriela explained.
- We were leading 20-8 when they started to get one point after the other. The pressure on us grows because we just want to finish the game and play the next.
Focus is key
Wu and Tsu made too many mistakes in the second and third game, and the Stoevas just focused on keeping the shuttle inside the lines and making the rallies longer. All because they discovered that if the rallies were long, their opponents would make the mistakes.
In the second round, waits either Lauren Smith and Sarah Walker of England or Du Yue and Li Yinhui of China.
- It will be a tough one for sure, every match is tough. I think we will just try to be focused again and try not to lose that concentration. We will give our best and see what happens.