What a week it has been! This saturday,January 18,Thom Gicquel from Bretille and his mixed doubles partner Delphine Delrue faced off against the Malaysian duo Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei,ranked third globally,in the semi-finals of the Indian Open.The French pair showcased their prowess, securing a decisive victory in straight sets (21-17, 21-15), marking their first-ever qualification for a Super 750 tournament final.
Despite having only one win in their previous four encounters against the Malaysians, Gicquel and Delrue delivered a flawless performance, riding the wave of their success in New Delhi. As highlighted in their recent matches, the duo has yet to drop a single set in the tournament. “Winning this match was a huge achievement. The pressure was intense, but we handled it well,” shared Thom Gicquel. “Our strategy of maintaining a high position on the court and varying our pace paid off.Typically,they thrive on aggressive play,but we adjusted our approach,and it worked perfectly.”
In the final, scheduled for Sunday, January 19 (time to be confirmed), the French pair will take on the Chinese duo Jiang and Wei, who are currently ranked second in the world. Irrespective of the outcome, Gicquel and Delrue, currently ranked 12th globally, are set to break into the top 10, a notable milestone in their careers.
