Julien Carraggi, 22, 87th in the world, reached the semi-finals of the badminton Polish Open on Sunday in Tarnow, a Challenger event of the international federation (BWF) endowed with 15,000 dollars.
The young Belgian successively beat the Italian Giovanni Toti (BWF 107) in the first round (21-18, 21-7), the German Kai Schaefer (N.6), 61st player in the world, 11-21, 21- 13 and 21-19 and especially the Dane Victor Svendsen (N.2), 43rd in the world, in the quarter-finals 21-13 and 21-15.
Svendsen had eliminated in the 2nd round Elias Bracke (WF 174), 24 years old, the Belgian champion, from the qualifications.
Julien Caraggi then fell in the semi-final, his first in his career at this level, against Finland’s Kalle Kojlonen (BWF 77) 21-19, 21-17. He was beaten in the final by the 17-year-old Frenchman Alex Lanier (N.8), 68th in the world.
Among the women, Clara Lassaux (BWF 137), 21, was forced to retire in the second round.
This week in Spain is the Madrid Masters, a World Tour Super 300 event endowed with 210,000 dollars with Lianne Tan, 32, 37th in the world.
