As the YONEX Dutch Open approaches the most important part of the tournament, there have been many European players impressing today, with shocks around too!

In the Women’s Doubles, Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen managed to beat the number six seeds Nami Matuyama/Chiharu Shida in a three-game thriller

While the number four seeds Ben Lane/Jessica Pugh took a shock exit after getting knocked out by French pair Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue.

Patience was the key to the semi-final!

Danish Women’s pair Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen eventually managed to get past their Japanese opponents today but Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida did not move easily.

The first game was tough for the Danes and paid for errors that were made resulting in them losing 17-21.

Knowing that the only way they could win was with three games, the pair managed to cut out errors and found a rhythm, to take the second 21-18.

The third was quite comfortable for Fruergaard/Thygesen, showing everyone what they could do and left court with a 21-15 win which has taken them through to the semi-finals.

Ready for tomorrow!

Maiken Fruergaard spoke with Badminton Europe following the turnaround and she admitted that the pair did not play well enough in the first.

The 23-year-old and Thygesen will now do their homework on potential semi-finalists and be ready for the match tomorrow.

- There were too many unforced errors in the first set and played on their terms. We turned the game and had a better defence in the second and third set.

- We will watch the match with our two possible opponents and then make the tactics after who it is.