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The hugely anticipated Korea Open got underway in Incheon on Tuesday and a number of Europe’s top talents have already been in action.
Day one focussed on the qualifiers but there was the opening round of the mixed doubles as well so there were many of the world's finest players involved on the opening day.
Ellis and Smith fall at the first hurdle
The biggest match of the opening day saw a clash between the world number seven and eight pairs in the world in the mixed doubles. The match saw England’s Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith take on the world number seven pair of Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti (INA).
In what was always going to be a close match the English pair fell short in the closest of circumstances after a 22-24, 21-23 defeat.
The two pairs traded the lead countless times throughout the match but in a highly intense game it was the Indonesians that just about did enough to put away the English at the opening hurdle.
Adcocks win all European clash
On a brighter note for England, Chris and Gabrielle Adcock managed to come through their opening round match in what was an all-European encounter.
The husband and wife pair took on France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue in the first round and were dominant throughout with a 21-11, 21-12 win.
The English pair may well have an even tougher match in the second round as they have been drawn against the top seeds of Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong (CHN) tomorrow.
Leverdez falls in tough qualifier
Away from the mixed doubles now and it was a tough day for France’s Brice Leverdez as he lost in the qualifier on the opening day in Korea.
The world number 37 was always in for a tough match and after over an hour long match the Frenchman eventually lost out to Lee Dong Keun (KOR), 21-17,15-21, 9-21.
Leverdez was initially in control of the match and took the opening game but the home crowd got behind the Korean and Lee took control of the final two games to move into the second round.
See all the results from the opening day in Korea here
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