The Stoeva sisters are qualified for the quarter finals of the China Open 2018 after a retired match in Changzhou on Thursday. Other Europeans such as Viktor Axelsen as well as Chris and Gabrielle Adcock did not reach the next round of the tournament. 

For Gabrielle and Stefani Stoeva it was a reunion with old opponents at Day 3 in Changzhou: As in July this year at the Indonesian Open, they played against Lee So Hee and Shin Seung Chan. At that time, the Bulgarians lost against the South Korean pair after the third set which ended with 22-20. 

- We knew that it will be a tough match and we wanted a revenge for the match in Indonesia, says Stefani Stoeva.

Whereas Lee and Chan were seeded seventh, the women’s double from Bulgaria was seeded 13th. But the match in Changzhou was shorter than expected. After the Stoeva sisters were leading 5-4 in the first game, the game was retired. The reason: Lee had an injury and could not continue. 

- The feeling of being in the next round is a good one. But honestly, our tournament starts now.  

On Friday, Gabrielle and Stefani Stoeva are playing against the third seeded Chinese pair Chen Quingchen and Jia Yifan in the quarter finals.

Day 3 of the China Open 2018 was the day for a lot of victories for European doubles, especially for the Danish ones.

Maiken Fruergaard and Sara Thygese, Mathias Christiansen and Christinna Pedersen as well as Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen won their matches and are qualified for the quarter finals. Thereby, Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen knocked out Mark Lamsfuss and Marvin Emil Seidel. 

Chris and Gabrielle Adcock have been less successful. They lost against the Thai pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai with  17-21, 25-23 and 21-16. 

Whereas the Danish doubles are qualified for the next round in China, Viktor Axelsen had to accept a defeat against Anthony Sinisuka Ginting from Indonesia. He lost 18-21 and 17-21 to his opponent that he was recently beating at the Japan Open. This time, Viktor Axelsen had some problems:

- The last days I did not feel well. I had some problems with breathing. I had some issues with asthma this year and I thought I was over it but unfortunately, I’m not. 

Jan Ø Jørgensen is the second Danish single player that lost on Day 3 in Changzhou. He was beaten by two-time World, All-England and defending Olympic champion Chen Long from China with 21-10 and 21-5.

 – I did not have a chance today. Long was a bit more attacking than the last time I played against him. But I kind of knew that a defeat like this would be happening. 

A more successful example to her male counterparts was Carolina Marin. The Spanish that recently won the Japan Open reached the quarter finals in Changzhou over the Japanese Sayaka Takahashi with 21-16, 14-21 and 21-9. On Friday, she is playing against Gao Fangjie from China. 

Watch all highlights of the China Open 2018 here.