Michal Rogalski
(main picture) defeated Japanese top shuttler Kenichi Tago 22-20, 21-12 to sprang an upset at the World Championships on Tuesday. The Polish world number 84 saw off the former world top ten player in just 37 minutes to book a second round date with Hong-Kong Chinese number one Hu Yun, who eliminated Italian Rosario Maddaloni 21-15, 21-13 in the opening round.
Meanwhile, title holder Carolina Marin entered the second round after she spent more time on court today as she probably would have hoped. The Spaniard booked her place in the last 16 after she beat Tee Jing Yi of Malaysia in three games. But it was Marin who survived a scary start as she lost the opening game 19-21. That shock seemed to snap the Spaniard back to attention, and to bring her best badminton strokes under control as she won the following sets 21-13 and 21-14.
The 22-year-old from Madrid will face Tai Yu Po for a place in the quarter-finals.
US Open runner-up Hans-Kristian Vittinghus made it safely into the second round as he beats Scotland’s Kieran Merrilees 21-16, 21-15.
“I am so happy to be through to the second round here. I had a real tough time on court today, but that's no wonder as I injured my back on Saturday morning and wasn't able to hit a shuttle since. But it has been getting better every day and today I almost didn't feel any pain, so that's very positive. The biggest challenge for me now is to keep my focus on just playing and not how my body is reacting”, wrote Vittinghus on his facebook page.
The unseeded Line Kjærsfeldt played a great match against Indian star P.V. Sindu (#11) where she could show her big potential. The Danish female number one lost their first meeting 21-11, 17-21, 16-21 in over 50 minutes of play.
Solid start for European Champion Jørgensen
Denmark's number two seed Jan Ø. Jørgensen reached the second round thanks to a win over Thailand's veteran player Boonsak Ponsana. The Dane needed 37 minutes to win 21-9, 21-19 and will face Czech Republic's Milan Ludik, who defeated Marius Myhre of Norway 21-18, 21-19, tomorrow in the round of the last 16.
Joining the current European number one in the next round is Germany’s Marc Zwiebler who showed no mercy with Cuba's Osleni Guerrero winning in straight games 21-16, 21-13 to set up an early clash on Wednesday against superstar and former world no. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia.
„Tomorrow’s match against Lee Chong Wei is my personal final here. It’ll be very difficult against him as I could never beat him. But I will do my utmost”, says Zwiebler.
World number 83 Penty battled brilliantly to upset in-form Frenchman Brice Leverdez – a player ranked over 50 places higher – 23-21, 18-21, 21-13 in over 57 minutes.
Penty, who turns 23 on Wednesday, overturned a 15-10 deficit in the opener to take the first. Roles were reversed in the second as the Briton led 14-10 before Leverdez outmanoeuvred Penty to level the match. But leading 13-6 in the decider, Penty maintained the advantage to set up a second round meeting with Wang Zhengming, China’s eighth seed, in the second round.
“Given the stage and how well he's been doing the last 12 months, this is probably my best win,” said Penty. “I kept my composure for sure as I had a bad run in the middle of the second set and tried to keep good control of the net in tricky conditions.
Korea’s Son Wan Ho, seeded ninth, cruised past Ville Lång of Finland 21-13, 21-14.
The Adcocks safely through
Chris and Gabby Adcock
(pictured), the world number seven pair, got their mixed doubles campaign at the World Championships off to a winning start. The seventh seeds knew they had a tricky opening test in the form of Korean pair Shin Baek Choel and Ye Na Chang, but secured a third round berth with a 21-17, 21-18 victory over 38 minutes. A tight tussle in the first game saw the scores locked at 17-all before the Britons rattled off four successive points to take the opener.
The Adcocks then opened up a crucial 15-12 lead in the second and held their composure to win through at the iconic Istora Stadium. “We felt relaxed today and the crowd supporting us made my day,” admitted Gabby Adcock afterwards to Badminton England. “We’re really happy with that win in what could have been a potential banana skin against a good Korean pair.”
Wednesday’s highlights:
Michael Fuchs/Johannes Schöttler (GER) vs Fu Haifeng/Zhang Nan (CHN)
Baptiste Careme/Ronan Labar (FRA) Ahsan/Setiawan (INA)
Marc Zwiebler (GER) vs Lee Chong Wei (MAS)
Ratchanok Intanon (THA) vs Özge Bayrak (TUR)
Scott Evans (IRE) vs Zulfadli Zulkiffli (MAS)
Linda Zetchiri (BUL) vs Bae Yeon Ju (KOR)
Chen Long (CHN) vs Raul Must (EST)
Michal Rogalski (POL) vs Hu Yun (HKG)
Adam Cwalina/Przemyslaw Wacha (POL) vs Endo/Hayakawa (JPN)
Toby Penty (ENG) vs Wang Zhengming (CHN)
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Article by Manuel Rösler.
Quotes of Chris and Gabby Adcock and Toby Penty by Badminton England. All photos by BadmintonPhoto (LIVE).