Eric Pang was the biggest casualty today as the top seed in the men’s singles crashed out to India’s Anand Pawar.
Pawar Surges Into Final
After defeating Pang in his quarter final, Pawar then defeated the 3rd seeded Sri Lankan Niluka Karunaratne to book his place in the final against Andre Kurniawan Tedjono, who defeated the 4th seeded Dicky Palyama to ensure a double disappointment for the home fans.
Jie Yao is one of three potential Dutch winners on finals day, after victories over Simone Prutsch and Elizabeth Cann in her two matches today to ensure her place in the final against Sonia Su Ya Cheah of Malaysia. The unseeded player defeated the 4th seeded Schnaase in her quarter final and then beat Michelle Chan Ky, seeded 2 this week to reach the final.
One Doubles Title Assured
De Ruiter and Khodabux take on their own Malaysian opponent in the men’s doubles final, taking on Heg and Teo who are ranked 42 places below them in the world rankings. The Malaysian pair have already defeated the 2nd seeded Bosch and Ridder this week as well as the English pairing of Ellis and Langridge to reach the final.
One title is assured in the women’s doubles, with top seeded Van Dooremalen and Jonathans taking on the 3rd seeded Piek and Tabelling in an all-Dutch final. Only the top seeded pair have dropped a game this week in their semi final against Muskens and Peters to set up the first meeting between the pairs in international competition.
Mateusiak and Zieba are safely into the mixed doubles final and take on a Russian pair ranked almost 250 players lower than them in the world rankings. Ashmarin and Panushkina have dropped a single game on route to the final and survived a match point to ensure their place in the final. The top seeds Poles have been clinical in their route to the final, conceding double digits in just one of their six games to date.
The treacherous conditions outside the arena in Glasgow might have have kept people away from the finals, but those who attended were treated to local success as well as unlikely winners. Imogen Bankier reclaimed her mixed doubles title, this year with a new partner in Chris Adcock as the pair defeated the German 3rd seeded Koehler and Zander in two games in a dominate week for the new partnership.
The men’s singles was a complete anti-climax as the anticipated clash between the top two seeds failed to live up to expectations as top seeded Anand Pawar crushed Ville Lang 21-9, 21-10 and the 2nd seed looked uninterested throughout the match, Lang was seen yawn on court late in the second game raising questions about his desire to be in the final.
Tatyana Bibik completed her impressive week with a two game victory over the top seeded Elizabeth Cann, the 3rd seeded Russian defeated the #1 seed in two games to follow on from her impressive two game victory over last years winner, the 2nd seeded Susan Egelstaff. The all-English women’s doubles final was won by the 3rd seeded Wallwork and White in two games, defeating their 2nd seeded countrywomen, Olver and Agathangelou who were seeded 2nd for the event. Wallwork and White defeated the top seeded Van Dooremalen and Jonathans yesterday to book their place in the final.
The men’s doubles final was won by the top seeded Mills and Ellis, who defeated their 3rd seeded team-mates Ellis and Adcock in the longest match of the day as they took the 45 minute encounter in three games as the English squad took two of the three finals they were involved in today.
Nine Scots started the day with a chance of a title remaining in Scotland, by the end of play just one player remains. Kieran Merrilees run ended at the hands of 3rd seed Dmytro Zavadsky in three games, but the men’s singles final is a battle of the top two seeds, with Anand Pawar defeating Luka Wraber in the quarter finals and then the excellent run of Flemming Quach came to an end as the Indian top seed defeating the Danish player to book his player in the final. Ville Lang fought back from a game down against Bandar Sigit Pamungkas of Indonesia to progress to the last four before defeating the 3rd seeded Dmytro Zavadsky of Ukraine to reach the final of the event he won in 2007.
Linda Sloan’s run ended at the hands of the top seeded Elizabeth Cann, who completed her run to tomorrow’s final with a two game victory over Cee Nantana Keputra in two games. The big Scottish hope for a title was defending champion and 2nd seed Susan Egelstaff, who breezed through her quarter final match over Anna Held Jensen. Her semi final opponent was Tatjana Bibik, the 3rd seed from Russia. Bibik defeated the 6th seeded Rachel Howard in her quarter final and the question marks over her use of a back brace look to have been answered as she ended the run of the defending champion, defeating Egelstaff in two games, 21-15, 21-12.
The men’s doubles final is an all-English affair, as top seeded Ellis and Mills take on the 3rd seeded Ellis and Adcock. Both partnerships progressed without much resistance, with both partnerships winning both games without the loss of a game. Only the top seeded Adcock and Ellis have lost a game on route to tomorrow’s final. The women’s doubles is another all-English encounter, with Wallwork and White defeating the top seeded Jonathans and Van Dooremalen to reach tomorrow’s final against the 2nd seeded Olver and Agathangelou, with both couples not dropping a game to this point this week.
The mixed doubles final is the only match with a Scottish interest, as the 2007 winner Imogen Bankier reached the final with partner Chris Adcock of England, the 2nd seeds have not dropped a game this week nor have they looked troubled on their route to the final. Their 3rd seeded opponents, Koehler and Zander saved two match points to book their place in their semi final match against Middleton and Lim of England but have already beaten Scottish opponents to reach tomorrow’s final, defeating Gilmour and Mason in their opening round match.
For some of the top seeds, it took just one match to make it into the last 8, others had a fuller day of action as all five top seeds progressed into the quarter final stages. There has been some bigger name casualties on day 2, as both Russian seeds fell in their quest to make the last 8 which has given way to some unlikely names in the field of 8 in the men’s singles. Relative unknown Flemming Quach is through after his two game win over 4th seeded Vladimir Malkov as well as Indonesian Bandar Sigit Pamungkas after putting out the 14th seeded Daniel Grassmuck of Austria. The biggest threat to Anand Pawar’s title credentials will come in the way of 2nd seeded Ville Lang who looked as his imperious best in a two game victory over the 13th seeded Harry Wright of England.
The top seeds in the women’s singles begun their campaign, with two Scottish player into the last 8. Linda Sloan is the unlikeliest of the two to progress into the last 8 and he task only gets tougher as she takes on the top seeded Elizabeth Cann, who has dropped just 28 points in four games to reach the quarters. Scottish hopes, as always in this event lie with Susan Egelstaff, she fulfilled her task last year in winning the event and the crowd are expectant of another title this year. Egelstaff can move one step closer tomorrow morning in her quarter final match over Anna Held Jensen of Greece. The unknown quantity is Russia’s Tatyana Bibik, the 3rd seed played her 3rd round match in a back brace and looked to be in some pain throughout her two game victory over Bethan Higginson.
The 3rd seeds in the men’s doubles, Ellis and Adcock survived a scare late on Friday, losing the opening game to 2010 Scottish National Champions partnership of Jamie Neill and Keith Turnbell, however they bounced back to take the next two games and book their place in the last 8. Top seeded Mills and Ellis have had little resistance in their progression into the last 8 and the same can be said for the Scottish counterparts, the 2nd seeded Gilmour and Campbell who have reached the quarter final stage without the loss of a game.
The women’s doubles has a British feel about it, with 5 of the 7 remaining pairs being Scottish or English. Top seeded Jonathans and Van Dooremalen have only needed one victory to reach the last 4, after a first round bye and then a walkover in their quarter final matchup. The matchup of the quarter final will undoubtably be the 3rd seeded Wallwork and White against the Scottish pairing of Mason and Cooper in an all-Team GB matchup. 2nd seeded Olver and Agathangelou progressed into the last 8 after a two game victory over the talented Scottish junior pairing of Emma Cook and Caitlin Pringle.
4 British, 3 German and 1 American partnership make up the multi-national mixed doubles quarter finals. Chew and Kaputra progressed safely into the last 8 with a win over Campbell and Pringle of Scotland, whilst the Imogen Bankier looks to make it title number 2 in Scotland, this year she has teamed up with Chris Adcock and they also are into the last 8, defeating McHugh and Cook of Scotland. The 3rd and 4th seeds come from Germany and the 3rd seeded Zander and Koehler needed three games to make into the last 8 over Gilmour and Mason of Scotland. 4th seeded Herttrich and Schwenger needed just two games to defeat the English pair of Nottingham and Lewczynka.
Round 1 began today in Glasgow, with the field being weaker than previous years but the 2007 Champion, Ville Lang, seeded 2 and the 2008 runner-up and top seeded Anand Pawar are both safely into the second round, both winning in two games. Both Russian seeds, Vladimir Malkov and Vladimir Ivanov also progressed into the second round with two game victories.The only seeds to suffer early exits were the 15th seeded Raj Popat who lost to Austrian David Obernosterer and the 9th seeded Sattawat Pongnairat lost to local Scottish player Gordon Hoggan.
The top seeded Ellis and Mills also progressed into the second round of the men’s doubles, followed later in the day by the 2nd seeded Scottish pair of Gilmour and Campbell and over the day, the remainder of the 8 seeds progressed safely into the second round without the loss of a game between them.
There was some opening round matches in the women’s singles and doubles, with the 2008 winner, Jillie Cooper and the 2009 runner-up Emma Mason teaming up this year and progressing to the second round. Commonwealth Games quarter finalist Kirsty Gilmour is also through to the second round to ensure local interest is vast on day 2, with Susan Egelstaff starting the defence of her title.
No less than four finals will have Japanese interest, with one all-Japanese final guaranteeing at least one success for Japan. Ajay Jayaram booked his place in the men’s singles final with a two victory over the 14th seed, also from India, Anand Pawar. He will play the 5th seeded Sho Sasaki of Japan in the final, after ending the chances of local success with a two game victory over Eric Pang.
The chances of all 5 finals having Japanese interest ended when Ai Goto was defeated by top seed Yao Jie in two games to give the local crowd some home-grown interest in tomorrow’s final. Top seeded Yao takes on the 2nd seeded Juliane Schenk after defeating Olga Konon in three games to book her place in the final.
The men’s doubles will be an all-Japanese final, top seeded Hashimoto and Hirata defeated Kindervater and Schottler to book their place in the final. The unseeded pair of Hirobe and Kazuno defeated their 3rd seeded countrymen Sato and Kawamae in three games to set up tomorrow’s all-Japanese affair.
The top two seeds meet in the women’s doubles final, as Fujii and Kakiiwa ended the Swedish pair of Lennartsson and Wengberg’s excellent run this week with a two game victory for the top seeded Japanese pair. Second seeds Vislova and Sorokina averted another all-Japanese final with a two game victory over the 3rd seeds Matsuo and Naito to book their place in tomorrow’s final.
The mixed doubles final is another Russia – Japan affair, with the 3rd seeded Ikeda and Shiota defeating their 6th seeded countrymen of Hayakawa and Matsuo in an 81 minute thriller, after the 3rd seeds lost the opening game 30-29. They play the 4th seeded Sorokina and Nikolaenko in tomorrow’s final after they ended the run of local pairing of Bosch and Jonathans in two games to set up the second Russia v Japan final.
Picture Provided by Rene Lagerwaard
Whilst Viktor Axelsen’s quest for title number 2 ended at the hands of Eric Pang, there was delight for India as they guaranteed themselves a place in the men’s singles final. Ajay Jayaram continued his excellent run whilst Anand Pawar defeated Ireland’s Scott Evans in just over an hour to book his place in the all-Indian semi final. Chetan Anand could not make it 3 Indians in the last 4, as he lost out to Sho Sasaki of Japan.
The big local hope is in the women’s singles, as Yao Jie made it through to the last 4 with a three-game victory over Ukraine’s Larisa Griga. She takes on Ai Goto of Japan, who defeated Pai Hsiao Ma in two games. The second semi final is an all-German affair with 2nd seed Juliane Schenk taking on Olga Konon after both came through comfortably in two games in their quarter finals.
The shock in the men’s doubles was the defeat of 6th seeded Endo and Hayakawa to unseeded German pairing of Schottler and Kindervater, losing 24-22 in the third game. The other seeded Japanese pairs had little trouble, with both the top seeded Hashimoto and Hirata as well as Sato and Kawamae making it through to set up a semi final clash against each other.
Wengberg and Lennartsson ended the 4th seeded Jonathans and Van Dooremalen’s dreams of a home victory to join the top 3 seeds in the semi finals of the women’s doubles. Both top seeds Fujii and Kakiiwa as well as 2nd seeded Vislova and Sorokina won in two games, with Matsuo and Naito coming through in three games to book their place in the last 4.
Japan will definitely have a finalist in the mixed doubles, with 3rd seeded Ikeda and Shiota defeating Vislova and Durkin in their quarter final and in the all-Japanese quarter final, the 6th seeded Hayakawa and Matsuo progressed through. The top half of the draw has local interest in Bosch and Jonathans, they take on the 4th seeded Nikolaenko and Sorokina of Russia in the semi final.
Picture Provided by Rene Lagerwaard
After 4 rounds of battle so far Marc Zwiebler’s path to the finals in Belgium has been somewhat matter of fact. Only India’s Anand Pawar has posed much of a threat but even he failed to take a game off of the dangerous left hander. His most recent victim Eetu Heino did not fair as well, losing quickly 21-7, 21-14 allowing Zwiebler a simple entry to the finals where he will now face Dutch shuttler Eric Pang who disposed of Russia’s Vladimir Ivanov in close two games 21-16, 21-19.
Neither of the womens singles finalists have yet to see much difficulty and have yet to drop a game en route to the finals. That will change tomorrow when Germany’s Juliane Schenk faces off against England’s Elizabeth Cann. Schenk defeated Anastasia Prokopenko 21-15, 21-7 while Cann defeated Scottish player Linda Sloan 21-17, 21-10 to seal her spot. Once again the top two seeds have kept their billing.
The top two seeds would not however make it to the finals in the mens doubles when Koen Ridder and Ruud Bosch fell to Germany’s Ingo Kindervater and Johannes Schöttler 21-15, 12-21, 21-13. Tomorrow they will be featured in an all German final against their compatriots Michael Fuchs and Oliver Roth who ousted their opponents Liu Yi and Terry Yeo Zhao Jiang 21-12, 21-18.
Once again it will be a first/second seed final in the women’s doubles and yet another Germany vs Holland match up with Lotte Jonathons and Paulien Van Dooremalen facing off against Birgit Overzier and Sandra Marinello. Both teams found their way into the finals fairly easily with the top seeded Dutch pairing winning their match against Kim Buss and Claudia Vogelgsang 21-10, 21-15 and the German’s defeating Thamar Peters and Josephine Wentholt 21-6, 21-16.
Germany has at least one player in every final, but they are guaranteed a title in the mixed doubles as both pairs remaining are Germany. Michael Fuchs and Birgit Overzier upset the top seeded Ukrainian pairing of Valerly Atrashchenkov and Elena Prus 21-19, 21-10 while Johannes Schöttler and Sandra Marinello defeated Kieran Merrilees and Kirsty Gilmour 21-12, 21-12. From the looks of things Germany is likely to take home multiple titles this weekend.
The EBU circuit first event of the new season started in Belgium this week, with many of the top seeds still having a hangover period after the World Championships last month. Top seeded Marc Zwiebler has reached the last 8 impressively in the men’s singles, defeating both opponents in games and conceding just 34 points over the two matches. The other seed to survive the opening two rounds is Anand Pawar of India, the 6th seed plays the top seed German in tomorrow’s quarter final.
The other two seeds play in the 4th quarterfinal as 7th seeded Ville Lang of Finland takes on 2nd seeded Eric Pang. Both have progressed to the last 8 without dropping a game, with Lang conceding 51 points and Pang 56 points to date.
The top seed in the women’s singles is also through to the last 8, Juliane Schenk stormed through her opening 2 matches without the loss of a game to set up a quarter final against qualifier Panuga Riou of England. The 2nd seeded Elizabeth Cann is also through to the last 8, as well as Anastasia Prokopenko. The 7th seeded Elena Prus is the 4th and final seed left in the draw, she plays Scotland’s Linda Sloan in tomorrow’s quarterfinals.
All 7 of the seeds that started the event today are safely into the last 8, only Ashmiran and Khakimov of Russia remain as the unseeded pair left in the draw. Top seeded Bosch and Ridder are safely through to face the 5th seeded Chopra and Kona of India. The top two seeds in the women’s doubles are also through to tomorrow’s quarterfinals, but there is local interest from Biesbrouck and Devooght who are through to the last 8.
Four of the eight remaining couples in the mixed doubles are German, leading to two all-German quarterfinals with one on each side of the draw. Top seeded Atrashchenkov and Prus are safely into the last 8 as well as the Scottish pair of Kieran Merrilees and Kirsty Gilmour, both are known for their singles play and this is their first tournament playing together.
Heading into the semi-finals at the Bitburger Open and Denmark is looking strong with two semi-finalists in the mens singles. On the top Eric Pang from the Netherlands will be facing off against Hans-Kristian Vittinghus. Pang defeated India’s Anand Pawar in three games 21-10, 16-21, 21-6 while Vittinghus had a much easier time against Raul Must winning in two easy games 21-9, 21-11.
On the bottom of the draw we have England’s Carl Baxter facing off against Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen. Baxter defeated Ukrainian Dymtro Zavadsky in three thrilling games 16-21, 21-19, 21-17, and Jorgensen defeated Finland’s Ville Lang in two easy games 21-16, 21-10. The odds are stacked against Baxter in this one, but Jorgensen is still young so anything can happen.
Very few surprises in the women’s singles. At the semi-final stage only the fourth seeded Elizabeth Cann failed to live up to her billing, instead Yu Hirayama takes her place against Ella Diehl. On the other side of the draw we have Yao Jie against Germany’s hometown favourite Juliane Schenk.
For full results and live scoring from tomorrow’s matches visit the link below:
Bitburger Open 2009 Draws