Due to the busy schedule for players and coming off the back of the Fuzhou China and Hong Kong Opens, there has been considerable change in the draws in Korea, with many big names opting out of a third tournament on the bounce.
This opens things up for many other players in the hunt for valuable points. In the men’s singles for example, Denmark’s Victor Svendsen and Israel’s Misha Zilberman have been promoted from qualifying, and feature in the top half of the draw, facing Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tzu Wei and Hong Kong China’s Ng Ka Long in the opening round.
Also promoted from qualifying are French players Lucas Corvee and Lucas Claerbout. They join Brice Leverdez, making it an interesting French trio in the bottom half of the draw. If successful in their opening rounds, they will compete against each other in what would be vital encounters in their nation’s road to Tokyo.
A great opportunity
With many big names also missing in the women’s singles, Spain’s Carolina Marin will no doubt be looking at the draw and liking her chances for another title. The eighth seed, who is fast climbing back up the the rankings, finds herself in the bottom half of the draw. Meaning that the top seed until the final is China’s He Bingjiao, whom she has a positive record against. She avoided a potential semi-final against the number one seed Akane Yamaguchi.
However, Marin must overcome a home crowd favourite in the form of Kim Hyo Min in the first round. Kim has beaten Marin before, although that was back in 2012, when Marin was still a teenager at nineteen. The three subsequent encounters were much more assured for the left-handed Spaniard, and she will be hoping for much of the same.
We go again
The new partnership of Carsten Mogensen and Mads Pieler Kolding failed to take flight in Dublin, when losing to the eventual winners, Germany’s Jones Jansen and Peter Kaesbauer, in the quarterfinals of the Irish Open. However, they go again in Korea. After being promoted from qualifying they will play the winner of qualifying one in their opening round.
This rather interestingly features the return of Hong Kongers Lee Chun Hei and Tam Chun Hei, who were last seen at this very tournament a year ago. Lee was once world number six in mixed doubles and won a world championship bronze in Glasgow with partner Chau Hoi Wah, who has recently become a mother. If successfully navigating qualification, this opening round match may be a fascinating spectacle for the fans.
For the full draws and fixtures, click here.