YONEX ALL ENGLAND – Russian/Indonesian Combination Blooms

Anastasia Russkikh (Russia) and Flandy Limpele (Indonesia) caused a ripple in the Chinese sea today as they beat Xie Zhongbo and Zhang Yawen in three sets. The Chinese were obviously strong favourites for the match but the experience of Russkikh and Limpele paid dividends and today’s result, in combination with their semi-final appearance in Germany last week, has gone a long way to establish the pair as a major force in international mixed doubles badminton.


By Mark Phelan (Live) Photos: badmintonphoto.com (Live in Birmingham)



Limpele and Russkikh who were brought together by GPS (www.globalplayerservices.net) at a meeting at the French Open in 2008, were today victorious over established Chinese pair Xie Zhongbo / Zhang Yawen Not many expected the European/Indonesian pair to win but they have come together this season with a goal and purpose to display to the world that they have what it takes to take on the top pairings in mixed doubles badminton.

The first set ebbed and flowed back and forth as both pairings found their All England feet. It was Russkikh/Limpele who eked out a mid-game lead at 11-7 but the Chinese bounced right back to take the next 5 points to level the game at 11-11. The score board continued to fluctuate in increments of one as both teams played struggled to find the kinks in their opponents' armour. The Chinese had a slender lead at 17-16 and once they had their nose in front they did not need another invitation as they rattled off the next four points to take the opening game 21-16.

In the second set, the first six points where traded before Limpele and Russkikh applied the gas and put some daylight between themselves and their opponents at 9-6. The Chinese sensed the game was slipping away and rallied to close the gap and level at 9-9. At this point, with Russkikh playing with renewed vigour at the net, the Russian/Indonesian combination slowly but surely started to pull away and at 18-12 had the set in their hands. Xie and Zhang pressurised their opponents at this point and clawed their way back into the set to get within 2 points of Russkikh/Limpele but the experience of Limpele was crucial as he steadied the ship to eventually take the set 21-18.

The final set went very much the way of Limpele/Russkikh as the Chinese had no real reply to the power of Russkikh at the net. Once Russkikh/Limpele got their noses in front they seized the opportunity and the Chinese had no plan B and ultimately no answer of consequence to bring to the table. Russkikh and Limpele wrapped up the set 21-17 after blowing three match points to book their second round ticket where they will meet the winners of the battle of Britain between Bankier/Blair and Lindley and Rayappan.

“Today we just went out to enjoy ourselves as we have only had one week's practise ahead of this tournament. We did well last week at the German Open so we knew we had a good game coming into this tournament but we still have a lot of improving to do. It will be at least a year before you see the best of us as it takes that long to get used to a new partner,” said Limpele after his first round win.

Elsewhere in the mixed doubles, Denmark can be happy this evening as both Nielsen/Bonde and Schjoett Kristensen/Delbo Larsen advanced to the second round.

Nathan Robertson was forced to retire earlier to day due to a bout of the flu, which means English number 1 pairing of Clark and Kellogg advance without having to make an appearance, much to the chagrin of the large home crowd that obviously turned up to see the ‘All England’ match at the All England.