General

Kalle Koljonen is the only singles player representing Finland at German Open. (Photo: Badminton Europe/Mark Phelan)
Koljonen: I am not the underdog
Date: 3/6/2018 5:07 PM
Published by : Emma Lollike
The qualifying rounds of the 2018 YONEX German Open proved to be an easy task for Finland’s first men’s singles. Kalle Koljonen can look forward to the main draw after two victories earlier on Tuesday.

Koljonen expected to make it out from the qualifying rounds since there was a lot of players promoted to the main draw.

- For me, it was just about finding the lines and just playing at 90-95 % - just getting warmed up for the main draw, he told Badminton Europe after his final match.

The Finn was one of the first players on court this morning when he beat Rüdiger Gnedt from Austria; 21-8, 21-5. The second and final victory was against Alex Vlaar from Bulgaria later in the afternoon which seemed to be just as comfortable. 


Facing team mate in R1
Mark Caljouw from Netherlands will be the opponent on the other side of the net for Koljonen’s first round on Wednesday. 

- I will play against Mark Caljouw so it’s going to be a tough match for me. We play in the same club in the Danish league so I know him quite well. 

- But of course I am going for the win, so I am not trying to think that I am a big underdog. I will see how it goes tomorrow.


Europeans in the main draw
Kasper Antonsen and Niclas Nøhr went into three games against Po and Yang from Chinese Taipei. After losing the first game, the Danish men’s doubles fought their way back with 22-20, 21-18. Denmark’s Kim Bruun also secured a spot in the main draw tomorrow, where he will face the 5th seeded Anthony Sinisuka Ginting from Indonesia.

Three constellations are ready for the first round on Wednesday without having entered the court. That was the case for Germany’s own women’s doubles Lisa Kaminski and Hannah Pohl, Alexandra Bøje and Sara Lundgaard from Denmark and the mixed men’s doubles of Sam Magee of Ireland and Raphael Beck of Germany.

France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue beat the German home favourites Jones Ralfy Jansen and Carla Nelte; 21-19, 16-21, 21-15. The French duo will be the only European constellation that made it through the qualification in mixed doubles. 

Find all results from the qualification of YONEX German Open here.

©badmintoneurope.com. All rights reserved.

Related news
29/03/2024
Europeans ready for quarterfinals in Madrid
European favourites out of the...

27/03/2024
EOC Executive Committee awards 2027 European Games to Istanbul
The European Olympic Committee...

27/03/2024
Madrid Spain Masters day 2: Victories, upsets, and excitement on court.
French siblings sweep to victo...

26/03/2024
A first action-packed day unfolds at the Spain Masters
The Madrid Spain Masters 2024 ...

26/03/2024
Spain Masters begins today with an unexpected withdrawal!
Madrid is buzzing with excitem...

25/03/2024
Lane/ Vendy and Marin, victorious at Swiss Open
The Swiss Open concluded this ...

More news