In Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, where the German Open is in full swing, 20 quarter-finals are being played today. Half of them have European entries and in at least one of them a European constellation will proceed. Get the European preview of the matches at German Open here.
Danish men’s singles player, Emil Holst is no. 40 on the world rankings and is the man behind the sensation of the tournament. Last night, he defeated no other than Lin Dan in two sets; 21-10 21-16.
” I cannot express how happy I am. Lin Dan is the best badminton player of all time and I beat him. What a match. I am not sure how it happened – but I did it. I am so happy”, Holst said to the
German Badminton Association's website.
6th seed Chou Tien Chen awaits Holst in the quarter-final today. Yesterday, the Taiwanese pulled through in three sets against Anders Antonsen (Denmark), and their fellow countryman, Hans-Kristian Vittinghus joins Holst in the other half today, where he will face 2nd seed Chen Long in his quarter-final.
Zvonimir Durkinjak of Croatia is ranked no 118, and has reached the quarterfinal today after defeating Kim Bruun (Denmark) in round 2. Bruun who took down the German favourite, Marc Zwiebler, in the previous round after he retired in the second set.
In the men’s doubles category, the Europeans continue to impress. Three constellations are through for the quarter-finals today.
Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and David Daugaard delivered the first sensation of the tournament, when they beat first seeds Kamura/Sonoda of Japan. Now, Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Denmark) “only” have the 8th seed Thais to worry about in their half, if they make it into the semis.
In the other half, a European showdown is possible if the second and third seeded doubles, Respectively, Mads Conrad-Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding (Denmark) and Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov (Russia), can win their quarter-finals today.
Marin is still the only one
After a shaky start against Line Kjaersfeldt of Denmark in three sets, Carolina Marin is the only European women’s singles through for today’s quarter-finals.
In the other half, Sabrina Jaquet (Switzerland) was close to join her, but had to bow out in three sets to second seed Akane Yamaguchi; 16-21 21-13 21-14.
Carla Nelte and Isabel Herttrich of Germany joined the Danish trend of sending first seeds out of the tournament. Yesterday, Japan’s Fukuman/Yonao suffered a “21-18 8-21 21-17”-defeat to the German duo. And along with the Stoeva sisters of Bulgaria, they are in the quarter-finals today in opposite halves. If the Germans suffers a defeat, Nelte has one more shot later to reach the semis in the mixed double.
There were many European entries in mixed doubles, but only 3 out of the 14 European constellations exceeded to the next round. Germany’s Mark Lamsfuss and Isabel Herttrich where close to get one step further, but was defeated 15-21 21-16 21-23 by second seeds Chan/Goh of Malaysia.
In the quarter-finals today, Europe is represented by Chris and Gabrielle Adcock of England, and Raphael Beck and Carla Nelte, who went through the qualification before reaching the quarterfinals. Both constellations have been in three sets so far and is unfortunately facing each other today on the TV court tonight.
Quarter-finals begin today at 4:00 PM on court 1 and 2, and 4:20 on court 3.
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