Day two at the VICTOR Denmark Open 2021 brought the full spectrum of emotions. Delight, frustration, fighting spirit and even some dancing. Find out who managed to book their place in the quarterfinals.
Kicking things off on court one was the Olympic Champion pair, Wang Yi Lyu/ Huang Dong Ping against the French duo Thom Gicquel/ Delphine Delrue. In a tight opening game, Gicquel/ Delrue were able to defend one game point to then have one of their own at 21-20. Despite this, they were not able to convert the golden opportunity.
-Frustrating end of the first game. We were so close. Then it was difficult to keep going in the second game against the Olympic Champions. We showed a good level, and we have to keep that for the next tournament. Can’t wait to play, said Delrue.
Wang/ Huang took the match 23-21, 21-10 and will now play the Hongkongers Tang Chun Man/ Tse Ying Suet, who came fourth at the Olympics in Tokyo.
The next tournament for Gicquel/ Delrue is their home tournament – the French Open in Paris.
Boxing or badminton?
In the meantime, on court two, Kirsty Gilmour was embroiled in a marathon battle with Korea’s Kim Gaeun. The Scot scuppered a match point chance in the second game, so it went to a decider.
Sixty-five minutes later and four match points saved, Gilmour went on a timely three-point run which won her the match – 21-18, 20-22, 26-24. Joking on Instagram right afterwards she wrote ‘Nice little run around today ay?’.
-I have been working really hard on my physical side. It’s always been my thing, I run, I jump, I chase everything down, but I have made a conscious effort to build that base endurance. You gain a lot of adrenaline from a match like that, Gilmour explained.
Kirsty Gilmour is close friends with Mia Blichfeldt and was eyeing up a quarterfinal clash against her. Looking straight down the camera and gesturing with her fists in a boxing motion she sent a message to the Dane.
-See you tomorrow if it is you, if not then unlucky today…I am highly anticipating that game. We have had some great battles, Gilmour said having fun in the mixed zone.
Azurmendi spoils the party
Clara Azurmendi, flying the flag for Spain, caused a major upset against the home favourite Mia Blichfeldt, winning in straight game, 21-12, 21-18.
It will be the Spaniard now who will take on Kirsty Gilmour for the right to play in the final four. It is 1-1 in their head-to-head.
Eighth-time lucky
The former European champions, Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen have shown that they can compete with the very best in the world, however, their home tournament has not been a happy hunting ground for them.
-The last eight times we have played here, we have never got through to the quarterfinals. This means a lot to us, Astrup said.
The Danes defeated Indonesians Pramudya Kusumawardana/ Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan 21-15 21-18 to finally get into the final eight.
-We have never been able to give our home crowd the level they deserve, so we were both shaking a little bit and got goosebumps after this match, he added.
They now face another Indonesian pair Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/ Bagas Maulana, who defeated the number one seeds, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/ Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo.