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.