Circuit

Arends & Piek in action during their MX semi final in Belgium
Piek doubles up
Date: 9/16/2017 8:37 AM
Published by : Mark Phelan
Selena Piek announced her return to form this evening in Leuven winning both her mixed and women’s doubles semi finals to book her finals spot alongside Jacco Arends in mixed and new women’s doubles partner Cheryl Seinen.

After dropping down the world ranking post Rio due to injury Arends and Piek made the short trip across the border to Leuven as one of the fancied unseeded pairs. It was a tough road to the final also with quality pairs strewn throughout the draw. The Dutch had to see of Corvee & Tran in round two before getting through a tough quarter final against Lane and Pugh of England.

In today’s semi final the Dutch beat the form circuit pair from the last 12 months, Mikkel Mikkelsen and Mai Surrow. After sharing the opening games, the Dutch powered through in the decider to win 21-14 and book their final spot against the unlikeliest of pairs Scott Evans and Amanda Hogstrom.

Piek was also taken to three sets in her women’s doubles semi final alongside Cheryl Seinen. Palermo and Delrue offered up a stiff fight but in the end the craft of Piek and the power of Seinen combined well to see them through.

The women’s doubles final will be an all Dutch affair as the surprise packet of the tournament Imke Van Der Aar and Debora Jille came from behind in their semi final to beat Jessica Pugh and Chloe Birch of England. 

“It is nice to return to winning ways” said Piek after her successful day. “It has been a frustrating year with injury so to come back and get to two finals is nice. We had a very good start in the mixed semi final against the Danes and we just had to figure them out after losing our way a bit in the second set.” 

To watch full Piek & Arends post match interview click HERE



Comfortable Corrales overcomes Danish test

Beatriz Corrales (pictured above) overcame a tricky semi final against European junior champion Julie Dawall Jakobsen to move to the final and justify her top seeding.

The Spaniard had looked in complete control throughout her early rounds before being squeezed into three sets by Julie Dawall Jakobsen. In what was a scrappy semi final the experience of Corrales took her through as Jakobsen ran out of steam. The Spaniard will now face Chinese qualifier Qi Xuefei after she ended the run of Sorya DeVisch Eijbergen. 

To watch full Beatriz Corrales post match interview click HERE

The men’s doubles final will be a battle of the top two seeds after Briggs & Wolfenden fought off the challenge of Sogaard and Bay Smidt in two games with Colberg and Fladberg were pushed right to the wire by fellow Danes Nohr and Antonsen surviving two match points to win 24-22 in the deciding set. 

For all results from today’s semi finals in Leuven click HERE

For a complete quarter and semi final photo gallery from today’s play click HERE

Article and images by Mark Phelan (Live in Leuven) 

©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

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