We are only one round into the main draw and with matches still ongoing, there is no doubt that no one wants to leave Turnów just yet.
The first matches of the main draw at the ORLEN Polish Open 2023 already gave us a glimpse of what was to come in the remaining matches of this first round. The audience on-site and those following the tournament from home have seen some intense fights on court and the day is not even done yet, with some women’s doubles matches still remaining to be played.
Among some noteworthy wins, we find that of Alex Lanier. The Frenchman faced today Japan’s Keita Makino who first had to work his way through four other matches before meeting the eight-seeded Lanier.
Despite his long journey to the main draw, the Japanese player gave the European Junior champion quite the clash. “He played really well. I felt good in the first game and then he changed something about his tactics in the second one; I was a bit surprised,” explained Lanier.
The match then went to three games and after an emotional last half of the decider, Lanier secured his spot in the second round of the tournament, 21-11, 12-21, 22-20. “I’m proud of myself because I stayed calm. I told myself that I’d wait for my chance. I’m happy that I won this tough match.”
After a two-day trip through the qualification rounds, Irina Amalie Andersen picked up a win in straight games in her clash against seventh seeded Léonice Huet, 21-13 21-17. The Centre of Excellence player, who eased into her third tournament of the year after coming back from an injury, will be fighting to advance to the quarterfinals in a match against Switzerland’s Dounia Pelupessy.