FRENCH OPEN 2015 Day 1 – Rouxel all the way!

France’s rising men’s singles player Thomas Rouxel gave the crowd some reasons to stand after two thrilling matches leading the twenty-four year-old to the main draw of his home event.

By Tarek Hafi, Badzine Correspondent live in Paris.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Thomas Rouxel certainly appeared to be in complete disbelief after his match against the up-and-coming Polish player Adam Dziolko, particularly after he made an early exit last week at the Swiss International, despite being the top seed of the tournament.

“After the World Championships, where I did really badly, I spent a few weeks sick and my last week at the Swiss International was terrible so I didn’t really believe I could do anything here which led me to come with no pressure at all and I guess it helped me today,” confessed an overjoyed Thomas Rouxel.

Adam Dziolko himself probably never thought he’d lose in straight games after having sent former world number three Kenichi Tago in the first round of qualifying. However the Polish player found no clue to overcome the French hurdle that is Thomas Rouxel, who had the whole crowd behind him.

“I have beaten him four years ago and I knew he liked to play a flat game, so I simply lifted the shuttle and tried to conquer the net at the same occasion,” said Rouxel.

The Brittany-born player, first disposed earlier of his training partner and friend Lucas Claerbout in a three-game battle, 23-21 21-13 21-17, where he came close to laying down his weapons, but instead snapped out of it to claim a well deserved win in front of his whole family who came to spring a surprise on the French player: “My whole family came from far away to surprise me and thankfully they didn’t come for nothing!” said Rouxel.

The world number fifty-five is now set to meet a bigger challenge, in the name of Kashyap Parupalli, seeded eighth: “I’ve never beaten such a player but I hope it will be a first, though coming out from the qualifications is just the start.  I will try to rest, eat well to recover as much as possible since my next opponent will probably be in better shape but on the other hand, I have the hall sensations with me,” concluded the French shuttler, looking eager to step again onto the courts in the Pierre de Coubertin Stadium.

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