Only in the second game the bronze medalist of the 2008 European Championships showed his best form. „We are very happy with his win. I didn't expect him doing so well. Some days ago he had an operation. That's why it is a much more surprising result. But of course we prepared professional before the match. We knew Wacha is a very attacking player. So it was all about controlling his attacks. And it was working very well today. Brice could neutralize his shots in a good way and he played tactically clever. We hope he can get through the last eight here“, speaks his coach Zhou Junling. But Leverdez couldn't keep his form. In the third round the 24-year-old lost to Ville Lang of Finnland in straight games.
Jørgensen with troubles in the opening round
Jan Ø. Jørgensen had much more troubles in the first round than he probably thought he would have. The Czech Petr Koukal almost created the upset of the day by pushing the second seeded to his limit. After losing the opening game 21-19, the Dane got better into the match and won the second set easily. The the deciding game was a more open match again. In the end a lucky 21-18 and Jørgensen reached the second round.
Top seeded and main favourite in Men's Singles, Peter Gade, had a good start in the M.E.N. Arena by beating the young Scottish Kieran Merrilees in two games (21-7, 21-18). „I had to work hard in the second game. At one side in the arena it's a bit difficult to see because of the lights“, Gade explains. Raul Must of Estonia is the next player who will try to prevent the fifth European title for the Danish super star.
See all results in Men's Singles
Portuguese joy
Portugal had only two participants in Manchester but all two reached the third round. And Telma Santos and Pedro Martins didn't even lose a single game on the opening day. Tomorrow their task to reach the next stage will a more difficult one. Martins is facing the sixth seeded Joachim Persson (Denmark), while Santos will be challenging Scottish hope Susan Egelstaff. Even though their way will be probably stopped tomorrow it was a great signal from one of the smaller badminton countries.
Camilla Sørensen : A player to watch
The Dane Camilla Sørensen didn't use a lot of energy today. She storms into the last 16 by beating her opponents in a very impressive manner. The statistics: 21-7, 21-8 against Kristina Ludikova (Czech Republic) and 21-5, 21-9 against Mariya Diptan of the Ukraine. „The reason why I have raise my level is because I'm playing with more patience now. Furthermore I am able to play the shuttle around without making many mistakes“, Sørensen explains her upswing.
„I take one match at a time. I want to play my absolute best at this tournament.“ Tomorrow the 24-year-old from Copenhagen can test her form against the top seeded Pi Hongyan of France.
The Swiss talent Jeanine Cicognini also reached the last 16 for the first time. The runner-up of the U19-European Junior Championships in 2005 beat Anu Nieminen in straight games. „I wouldn't have expected such an easy way. I am very happy reaching the last 16. Tomorrow against Juliane Schenk I don't feel any pressure at all. I don't have anything to lose“, Cicognini says. Her opponent in tomorrow's third round match Juliane Schenk made a short process against Slovenian Spela Silvester. „The start was good. I felt alright on court. I want to play my best badminton here. I know if I can reach that it'll be tough for every player to beat me. And the pressure is not on me because I am just a challenger. I am not the top seeded and not the second seeded“, Schenk said and added: „I love to play here. You can compare the atmosphere with the feeling at the All-England Championships.“
See all results in Women's Singles
Anthony Clark suffers back injury
A shock news for England was the withdraw from one of their best players. Anthony Clark was forced to give up his ambitions to win European medals because of an injury. Clark, who won the event two years ago with partner Donna Kellogg will now not compete in the remainder of the championships, where he was due to play men's doubles with Nathan Robertson on Thursday. So it's up to Elisabeth Cann and Andrew Smith in Singles disciplines to keep the English flag flying high. In the Mixed Doubles, despite the withdraw of Clark/Olver, they still have two pairings in the competition.
In the mixed doubles the current World Champions Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl reached the second round by beating the Bulgarian pair Makarski/Dimova in two games. Germans Ingo Kindervater/Birgit Overzier caused an upset by beating the fourth seeded Vitalij Durkin/Nina Vislova in two games.
See all results in Mixed Doubles
Lotte Jonathans is back on court
Can you stop playing badminton for almost five years on international level and then get back on the top again? This question is asked Lotte Jonathans herself since she decided to get back on court. The Dutch stopped five years ago and surprisingly is back again. „I wanted to have a family. That's why I have stopped with badminton and became mother of two children. At the last Olympics there were no Dutch players at all. I know that if I want take part in London 2012 it's now or never. The time was right to get back“, the Den-Bosch born Jonathans explains to Badminton Europe. „I think I need at least one year to reach the level I have had. I also have a new partner. We have to get used to each other first. The last Europeans I have played I won the Gold medal. But it would be stupid to have such goals right now. In six months we want to reach the top 20 in the world ranking.“ Lotte Jonathans will be in action in womens doubles from tomorrow on.