Host nation revels in five-game tie

Nina Mittelham and partner Petrissa Solja gave their fans in Bremen plenty to cheer about as they were locked in a pendulum battle with Thailand’s Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut.

In a match lasting 46 minutes, the German duo took an early lead of two games but were held back by the Asian pair. Eventually, in the final game Mittelham and Solja put together some stunning shots and got the win 3-2 (11-7, 12-10, 9-11, 14-16, 11-9).

Indian challengers unable to budge Chinese elite

Manika Batra and Archana Girish Kamath displayed a gritty  performance against China’s Chen Meng and Gu Yiting, but it was to be in vain, as the Indian pair could not register more than the one game in their 25 minute encounter.

The match resulted in a 3-1 (12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5) win for Chen and Gu, where the scoreline was not too kind on their opponents. Similarly, the mix pairing of Adriana Diaz from Puerto Rico and Romanian Elizabeta Samara who lost out to Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Haeun Yang by 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4).

Lee and Jeon imperious, Harimoto-Hayata thrill

Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee were a powerful duo in Bremen, as they won in straight sets against , Romanians Ovidiu Ionescu and Bernadette Szocs (11-5, 11-7, 12-10).

“No, it was no surprise that we lost. They are a very good pair. In the Asian Championships they almost beat Xu Xin/Liu Shiwen, were 2-0 and 10-8 in the lead. Be believed in our game but they were the better players today. We will try again at the next tournament.” Ovidiu Ionescu

Meanwhile, Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata were involved in a thriller with Germany’s Patrick Franziska and Petrissa Solja which ended in the Asian pair winning 3-1 (8-11, 12-10, 12–10, 11-9). The match was a feast for the fans with elite athletes engaging in a lot of rallies.

Wong-Doo tested, but move on

The most in-form duo across mixed doubles this World Tour season, Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem were tested early on as they faced Serbians Aleksandar Karakasevic and Izabela Lupulesku.

Despite losing the first game, the Hong Kong duo returned into the match with a strong showing of mobility across the table and went through to the quarter-finals in style, winning 3-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3).

Let the main draw begin!