by Ian Marshall, Editor
Liao Chen-Ting and Lin Yun-Ju, the no.7 seeds, accounted for the partnership formed by Belgium’s Cédric Nuytinck and Frenchman Quentin Robinot by the very narrowest of decisions (11-9, 3-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9); only slightly more comfortably, Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan, the no.5 seeds, overcame the formation of Poland’s Jakub Dyjas and Spain’s Alvaro Robles (11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 13-15, 11-7).
Success for the seeded pair, with one exception it was the same for the other partnerships who had received main draw direct entries; however, they succeeded without the need for a decisive fifth game.
The one exception to the rule was the defeat of Australia’s Ben Gould and Kane Townsend, the no.8 seeds, by India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6).
Success for Sharath Kamal Achanta and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran but there was defeat for their colleagues, Harmeet Desai and Sanil Shetty in a round where, like Chinese Taipei, the Korea Republic enjoyed success.
Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu, the top seeds, ended the hopes of Harmeet Desai and Sanil Shetty (11-6, 11-5, 11-4), colleagues Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon, the no.6 seeds, in similar irrepressible form, accounted for Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet (10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8).
“Our opponents were very strong which made it very tricky for us in the match but we trusted ourselves and were determined to fight back.” Lim Jonghoon
“It’s a totally different environment from last week when we were playing on home soil, so we have to settle down and adapt to the new environment here. We are confident to win this week as well.” Jang Woojin
Impressive from the Korea Republic; it was the same from Japan. Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima, the no.2 seeds, caused India more pain by overcoming Amalraj Anthony and Manav Vikash Thakkar (11-8, 11-3, 11-9); Koki Niwa and Jin Ueda, the no.4 seeds, accounted for the partnership formed by Sweden’s Anton Källberg and Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej (11-9, 11-9, 11-13, 11-8).
“We were a bit stiff to start with as this was our first match here. We tried to see how the opponents played but couldn’t get our own rhythm.” Koki Niwa
“After losing the third game, we knew how our opponents played so we tried to concentrate on our own game.” Jin Ueda
Noteworthy performances and there was one more; Germany’s Patrick Franziska and Ricardo Walther, the no.3 seeds, halted any aspirations harboured by the combination of Brazil’s Hugo Calderano and Frenchman Simon Gauzy. A straight games win was the order of proceedings (11-4, 11-5, 11-9).
At the quarter-final stage Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu meet Sharath Kamal Achanta and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran; Liao Cheng-Ting and Lin Yun-Ju oppose Patrick Franziska and Ricardo Walther. In the opposite half of the draw, it is Koki Niwa and Jin Ueda versus Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon; Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan in opposition to Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima.
Both quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Men’s Doubles event will be played on Friday 27th July.
