Paris will form the framework around the European Superseries tournament in the coming week. Brice Leverdez and the mixed doubles of Ronan Labar and Audrey Fontaine can expect to feel the home pressure as representatives of the hosting country in the main draw of Yonex French Open 2017.
But Ronan Labar does not take the home pressure as a disadvantage and is looking forward to getting started in a hall where he has performed well in the past.
- It's always a pleasure to play here in Paris, Ronan Labar tells Badminton Europe.
- I always have some close friends and family coming so it's pushing me to do my best.
Danes in R1
The Frenchman evaluates their chances against Skaarup Rasmuseen and Kjærsfeldt in the first round as a difficult one. He can see them both as winners, but hopes, as the Danes are a new constellation, that he and Fontaine can grab this opportunity.
- It's an ok draw for us, I think. It could have been worse, and it could have been better. So, now it's our job to take our chance.
In general, he thinks the level in mixed doubles is very close right now, but his bid on the final winners on Sunday falls on the number ones’ from China, Zheng Siwei and Chen Qingchen.
Confidence from Denmark Open
Last week’s result at Denmark Open where they reached their first Superseries Premier quarter-final, has helped the French find some confidence in their game, as they beat Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong from China.
- I think that we came back [from Denmark] with an amazing performance so it makes us feel a bit more confident about our game and what we are able to do on court. Before we thought that we could beat everyone, now we know that it's possible so it's a big step that we have made.
The qualifying rounds includes many French players, especially in women’s doubles and mixed doubles, where a total of nine constellations have the chance to play their way into the main draw.
Read about the quarter-finals from Denmark Open 2017:
Boe and Mogensen still in the title run
Danish duo loves French Open
In men’s doubles, the winners from 2016 comes fresh out of a semi-final last week in Odense and will be in Paris with one thing in mind:
- French Open is a great tournament that we are looking forward to playing. We won last year, and we want to do everything to reclaim the title, Mathias Boe says to Badminton Europe.
- Men’s doubles is a wide field and all the pairs in the main draw are good. So, for us the focus lies in the first-round match.
Unfortunately the tournament has suffered withdrawals from other world stars such as Viktor Axelsen, Lin Dan and Kamilla Rytter Juhl’s women’s doubles with Christinna Pedersen.