ALL ENGLAND 2013 R32 – Defending champion Li Xuerui out in first round

The reigning champion Li Xuerui was knocked out early as a strong Bae Yeon Ju simply committed fewer errors. Elsewhere defending mixed champions Ahmad / Natsir suffer no such issues against their German opponents.

By Michael Burke, Badzine Correspondent, live from Birmingham.  Photos: Yohan Nonotte for Badmintonphoto (live).

Bae Yeon Ju (pictured left) was too good for a sluggish Li Xuerui (pictured below) early on day 2 of the All England championships. A close first game was decided only by unforced errors at crucial moments, as a cross court drop into the net by Li at 18-all and then a smash wide at game point giving Bae the first end 21-18.

Bae capitalised on her unsettled opponent as she started strongly in the second game, taking an 11-5 lead at mid game break. With both players struggling to judge the length into the rear court the gap shrank again, but Li could not chase her opponent down, as Bae closed out the game with her third match point, again the score 21-18.

Meanwhile Michels / Fuchs, hoping to play well after a solid performance at the recent European Mixed Team Championships, struggled to find any consistant rhythm against reigning champions Ahmad / Natsir, who came through comfortably 21-10 21-15.

The full results for the day can be found here.

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