It does not get stronger than what we saw at the European Championships mixed doubles quarterfinals.

The eight seeded pairs met in a fight for medals at the Palace of Sports in Kyiv on Friday morning, and the entertainment level was as high as any badminton fan could hope for. 

On court one, the top seeds, Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith faced 2017 European Championships bronze medallists, Chloe Magee and Sam Magee, Ireland, and the English had the upper hand in the battle between neighbours, winning the first game 21-7.

Smith and Ellis, who won the 2019 European Games, secured another European medal, winning the second game 21-11.

- We should be quite positive, I think. We played a good match, and the big thing for us is the consistency, not having good patches and bad patches but actually, throughout the whole match, we did not really drop, which I think was a key today. We have seen in the past that Sam and Chloe have beaten pairs, where you think ‘wow’, and they can take you into that game you do not want to play, Marcus Ellis mentioned.

Quick win for the Germans
Before the start of the event, German Mark Lamsfuss and Isabel Herttrich stated that the goal was a medal and preferably a gold one. In the first game against Robin Tabeling/Selena Piek, Netherlands, the Germans won 21-8, and the world number 15 secured the medal, winning the second game.

- We had big respect before the match. They are in good shape and a good opponent, and we prepared really well. We dominated the service situation, and I think that was the key, Isabel Herttrich said.

- We expected a long and tough match, which we had the last time, and of course, we are surprised that it went quite quick.

Danish medal
French underdogs, Ronan Labar and Anne Tran, won the first game 21-12 against Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje, before the Danes bounced back winning the second game 21-16. In the decider the Danish number four seeds got a perfect start leading 7-1 but the French got closer with the Danes leading 11-7 at the interval.

The 2021 European Championships will be the last tournament for the partnership of Anne Tran and Ronan Labar, and the French will leave Kyiv with no medals. Christiansen and Bøje are ready for the semifinals winning the decider 21-12.

- We should have been better in the second game, but maybe the stress came back a little, Ronan Labar said.

- It is nice to win the first European medal. We know that they are a good pair, and they are fighting all the way. It could have gone their side, Bøje said.

Watch all matches from the 2021 European Championships at www.badmintoneurope.tv