All England (Super 1000) at Birmingham
“Only” 15th in the world, Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto and Lisa Ayu Kusumawati will end up becoming the “bête noire” of Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue (N.5 in the world).
For the fourth time in less than a year, the Breton and the Francilienne (24 years old) found this Indonesian duo who led, before this Thursday noon, 3-0 in their face-to-face.
A psychological advantage that seemed to weigh down Gicquel and Delrue, quickly dominated in the first set (3-11, 12-21 in 15′).
Failing to impose their game, nor to counter the tactics of a pair relying on the (almost) always fair interventions of Kusumawati, the vice-champions of Europe were badly embarked.
Reunion in Switzerland?
The change of side and more patient and precise actions, however, allowed them to shake up the “Indos” (7-2). But the good blue period did not last and the Asians recovered their delay in two stages (14-9 then 16-16). The Bretillien and Val-d’Oisienne had missed their chance to afford a third set (17-21 in 33 minutes of the match). Really a shame because their part of the table had cleared up on Wednesday evening with the elimination of the Chinese Feng and Huang.
Place, next week, at the Swiss Open, where they will be seeded N.2 and a possible quarter-final against… Kusharjanto and Kusumawati.
