Long days, intense matches, and enjoyable scenes for the audience have marked the first few days of the Hylo Open. Today, the pressure was on as it was time to fight for a place in the quarterfinals. Sadly, it could not be for many of our European stars even after pushing all they could, but many others succeeded in their quest to get closer to the podium.

Debora Jille and Cheryl Seinen’s partnership only came about last month. What better way to launch a new duo than by doing it at home. Their first tournament together was the Dutch Open, where they reached the finals, losing to Sweden’s Johanna Magnusson/ Clara Nistad, but getting a great first result as runner-ups.

After last week’s Belgian International, where they made it to the quarterfinals, it was time to show their worth at the Hylo Open where they would be facing some of Europe’s best as well as many of Asia’s top players, and it could be said that they have delivered so far.

Jille/ Seinen first’s match in the tournament was against world number 30 Hsu Ya Ching/ Hu Ling Fang, Chinese Taipei. The Dutch pair won in three games, and today they had to secure a win against Scotland’s Julie Macpherson/ Ciara Torrance. 

- We have nothing to lose. We already had a good round on Tuesday, it is a bonus to be here. We were on the reserve list, so to have these wins is good for us, Seinen said.

After winning the first game 21-7, the Scottish duo did not feel like giving up just yet and worked hard to take the second game.

– I think in the third game, we just kept telling each other to relax, to play point to point, and to not think too much, to just go for every point. I think it was quite a mental game in that third one, at least for us, Debora explained.

They eventually won the decider which confirmed that they would be playing in the quarterfinals. There, they will be meeting top seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul/ Rawinda Prajongjai, Thailand. Jille/ Seinen will play their best as they have been doing so far and whatever happens, the Dutch pair are satisfied with how far they will have made it and see this as a chance to grow together.

- To get some matches with some good players is good for our partnership to grow. It will be a fun game, and we have nothing to lose, so all in, Seinen stated.

Some more Europeans who delivered in their performances were the Danes. There were some losses for the team, but out of the nine playing today, four have advanced to the quarterfinals. Despite losing, some of them put up a good fight, such as Mathias Thyrri/ Mai Surrow who challenged the second seeded Indonesian pair of Praveen Jordan/ Daeva Oktavianti to a three-game match, 21-17 18-21 21-12.

Denmark will have representation in all categories but women’s doubles at the quarterfinals. Rasmus Gemke, who played one of the last matches of the day against Kodai Naraoka, won today after an hour and 20 minutes of match, 19-21 22-20 21-9. Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt was also one of the lasts to go on court, and won in straight games against Iris Wang, USA.

In doubles, the Danes will have Daniel Lundgaard/ Mathias Thyrri in men’s doubles, after they beat Christopher Grimley/ Matthew Grimley who made home favourites Mark Lamsfuss/ Marvin Seidel wave goodbye to the tournament, and Niclas Nohr/ Amalie Magelund, who faced world number 13 Goh Soon Huat/ Lai Shevon Jemie, Malaysia, in straight games.

After Tuesday’s great performance in her encounter with Kirsty Gilmour, Turkey’s Aliye Demirbag met Ukrainian player Maria Ulitina, winning in straight games again. Neslihan Yigit didn’t fail to impress either in her match against Estonia’s Kristin Kuuba. In a match that went to straight games, Yigit had a difficult first game but rapidly recovered to take the win.

Other Europeans who have qualified for the quarterfinals are England’s Ben Lane/ Sean Vendy, Germany’s Linda Efler/ Isabel Lohau and Mark Lamsfuss/ Isabel Lohau, and Belgium’s Lianne Tan.