The first rounds of the mixed doubles event at the 2018 YONEX German Open took off shortly after the qualifying rounds, and the European players tried their best to make it through the first round.
Niclas Nøhr and Sara Thygesen of Denmark faced the 4th seeds from Malaysia. The Danish constellation did not fail to impress as they beat Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing; 21-17, 21-13.
- He only served three serves in this match, and that was three in a row. So, I guess it was a mix of that plus the fact that we knew how to play them, Thygesen told Badminton Europe.
- On our top level, we can beat a lot of the pairs here, but our bottom level is still bad enough to lose. If we reach the same level and this style of play like today we can go far, but it is still just one match at a time, Nøhr shared shortly after the Danes won their match.
The Irish took Goh and Lai into three sets
Sam and Chloe Magee got off to a great start against Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai from Malaysia. They beat the 3rd seeds 21-15 in the first game, but never managed to bring the match home.
- It was a little bit of a shame that we couldn’t keep that lead all the way through. We were leading 13-8 in the third and I can’t help but feeling annoyed, Sam Magee said and continued;
- At 13-8 up, we definitely thought we had the match won, but then a little change of momentum. I don’t know why but it happened.
Two Dutch pairs went through
Netherland’s Jacco Arends and Selena Piek played an all European showdown against Denmark’s Joachim Fischer and Alexandra Bøje. It was the first tournament for the Danish constellation, but in the end, the Dutch had more confidence and experience together; 21-19, 25-23.
Jelle Maas and Imke Van Der Aar went through Round 1 in three games against Hoki and Matsutmoto of Japan; 21-19, 14-21, 21-16. Germans Mark Lamsfuss and Isabel Herttrich hoped to be able to do the same, but their brilliant first game-win was not repeated as they lost the last two; 10-21, 18-21.
English Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith are up against the second seeded Koreans next, as they beat Germany’s Linda Efler and Marvin Emil Seidel in the first round clash on Tuesday.