For the 10th time Sabrina Jaquet and Kirsty Gilmour will play each other in an international tournament.
With less than two weeks to go before the World Championships in Basel, we now know the draw for the biggest badminton event on European soil in 2019.
Sabrina Jaquet will walk on court in her home country, and she will be playing Scottish Kirsty Gilmour in the first round. It will be the 10th clash between the two players.
- We played many times against each other and we kind of always have had tough battles on court. I am really looking forward to that game and I expect a tough match. We are both “rally players” - it might get a long and tiring game, Jaquet said with a smile on her face.
Underdog
Jaquet and Gilmour recently met at the European Games in Minsk, where the Scot won 20-22 21-17 21-13, and Gilmour is also in the lead against the Swiss, winning seven out of nine previous matchups.
- It is not an easy first round at all, but if you see the draw, many first rounds are really tough, as the competition this year is really high, Jaquet mentioned.
- I am probably the underdog in that game, but I like this position and I will be really hungry going into the match.
Worlds at home
Few players have been taking part in a World Championships on home soil, and Sabrina Jaquet, who is currently ranked 49 in the World, admits that it is a special feeling, that all eyes will be on her.
- I am really looking forward to this big event. It is not an everyday business to have the World Championships at home, so I really want to play my best in Basel, Jaquet stated.
- The last few years I used to play really well in the St. Jakobshalle during the Swiss Open, so I am confident that I can bring my best performance out there, with the support of my home crowd.
See the draw for the World Championships here