The Yonex Belgian International has come to an end – and here is the report from the five finals.
Local heroes Wouter Claes/Nathalie Descamps reached the final in the home event, but had to settle for second place.
Yao Jie and Marc Zwiebler each added a title to their respective collections.
First finale on court was the women’s singles, where Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi were up against Emma Mason/Samantha Ward (SCO/ENG). The Japanese youngsters started the best and before we (or their oppenents knew it), they won the first game 21-8. But in the second game, the Scottish/English pair got their heads back in the game and they pushed the Japanese into a deciding game, taking the second with 21-18. In the third game, Matsutomo/Takahashi overpowered their oppenents with fast and precise shots, pushed them out of position and forcing them into errors. After a good match, Misaki and Ayaka won the decider with 21-13.
Next up were Ruud Bosch/Koen Ridder (NED) and Marcus Ellis/ Peter Mills (ENG), in the men’s doubles finale. The first game was very close and both sides had multiple game-points. But at 28-28, Koen Ridder injured his knee. The Physio came on court, treated him and Koen decided to keep playing. Only minutes later, the Dutchmen won the first game with 30-28. The second game was easier for Bosch/Ridder, they took it with 21-12 and grabbed the men’s doubles title.
After men’s doubles, it was time for men’s singles with Marc Zwiebler (GER) and Christian Lind Thomsen (DEN). Zwiebler took the first game with 21-13 but the Dane wasn’t just going to let him have the match. Lind won the second game with 21-16. In the decider, Zwiebler did what he does best. He controled the game, reading his oppenent and hitting him where it hurts. It took the German just over and hour but for the second time in his carreer, he won the Yonex Belgian International.
In the next match, we had veteran and ex top ten player Yao Jie (NED) facing off with the 17 year-old Misaki Matsutomo from Japan. Both shuttlers showed that they still or already have a few tricks up their sleeves, each taking a game at 21-14. In the decider, Jie’s expierence made the difference. She outplayed the Japanese and won the last game with 21-16.
Last match of the day was the one we’d been looking forward too: Mixed doubles with local heroes Wouter Claes/Nathalie Descamps versus Marus Ellis/Heather Olver from England.
The English pair took control of the game and quickly won the first game with 21-9. More of the same in the second game, but in the end the Belgian pair got back in to the game. After a couple of game-points on every side, Olver/Ellis eventually clinched the title with a 25-23 win.
