The four Alsatian musketeers competing on Wednesday at the European Championships in Saarbrücken have all validated their tickets for the next round this Thursday. However, not many people would have bet on this grand slam while the Strasbourg players Alex Lanier and Rosy Pancasari were opposed in the round of 16 of their singles to better ranked opponents.
At the end of a high-level Franco-French duel between former junior European champions, Alex Lanier, crowned in 2022 and 48th in the world, beat Fosséen Christo Popov for the first time (21-17, 21-19) , titled in 2020 and new French n°1 (20th), after failing twice against the triple French champion on the international circuit. The door to the quarters will open for him if he defeats the German Fabien Roth, 86th, at 7 p.m. Both players are at one victory everywhere.
Another performance of choice: that of the double vice-champion of France Rosy Pancasari, 87th, who took her revenge in three sets (10-21, 21-18, 21-9) against the Swiss n°1, Jenjira Stadelmann, 67th, victorious in mid-November at the Irish Open (14-21, 21-17, 21-18).
In the 8th, the Franco-Indonesian will come up against the Dane Mia Blichfeldt at 12:30 p.m., 22nd, seeded no. 2, finalist of the 2023 European Games – winner in 2019 – and reinforcement of Red Star Mulhouse in Top 12. “She me defeated in mid-February at the women’s team Euro in Poland (21-17, 21-18). I think I will be less stressed than today (Wednesday). I put pressure on myself because for my first Euro, I am playing in front of my loved ones, my coaches, my friends and my club. There, I’m going to have to raise my level. »
Merklé and Gicquel master
Arnaud Merklé (Red Star), 46th, achieved an expected success in the round of 16 of the SH by defeating the Ukrainian Danylo Bosniuk, 75th, for the third time – out of four (21-19, 21-13). At 4:30 p.m. he will meet another player he has already met often, the Irishman Nhat Nguyen, 43rd and seeded 7. If the latter leads 2-1, the Mulhouse native won their last match at the end of January in Indonesia.
“It’s my first Euro. I was pretty nervous because I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. It was finally the D-day and I will savor my victory,” appreciates the 2021 French champion. “This first match was the hardest. Now I have seen the conditions and it should be better. I know Nguyen. I know what I have to do and I will give it my all. »
Candidates for gold, Thom Gicquel (RSM) and Delphine Delrue (Chambly), 13th and seeded 2 in the mixed, made their debut by defeating the Serbs Mihaljo Tomic and Andjela Vitman 21-17, 21-11 in the 8th, 80th, which they had already finished in the quarters of the 2023 European Games. In the quarters, the reigning European vice-champions will face the Germans Jones Ralfy Jansen and Thuc Fuong Nguyen, 97th, at 4:30 p.m. Barring poor performance, the semi-final and, therefore, a new continental medal are within their reach.
Remember that the ladies’ doubles specialists, Sharone Bauer and Margot Lambert, will also be there this Thursday in 8th: the Strasbourg native, 76th with Emilie Vercelot, at 2:30 p.m. against the Turks Bengisu Ercetin and Nazlican Inci, 71st and n°8, and la Mulhousienne, 19th and n°2 with Anne Tran, around 11:30 a.m. in front of the English Chloe Birch and Estelle Van Leeuwen, 122nd.
2024-04-10 19:01:10
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