COPENHAGEN MASTERS 2011 – Easy first day for locals

In the usual cosy, splendid one-court hall, the Copenhagen Masters have kicked off in the Danish capital with the first four matches played in front of a well-filled stadium, and the local spectators were in for a treat as all their local favourites won their matches.

Raphaël Sachetat. Photos (live): Yves Lacroix for Badmintonphoto

The first on court was the Danish hero, Peter Gade, who spent little time taking care of Eric Pang of the Netherlands – a player he had never lost to. In half an hour, it was all finished with a clean 21-11, 21-13 success. He is left to play Rajiv Ouseph in his group, on Wednesday in order to make it to the final of the invitational event. The Dane confirmed after his victory what the local media had been hinting since the beggining of the week- that the 2012 Copenhagen Masters would be his last international event as a competitor, exactly one year from now.

Gade mentioned on his Facebook page that he might even be playing in the French Open, the Denmark Open and Japan Open after the Olympics – good news for all his fans around the world.

Mixed doubles stars Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen (photo) then took to the court and showed why they had been playing the finals of most of the Super Series tournament they had entered lately. They took just as long to beat scratch pair of Nova Widianto and Pia Bernadet 21-8, 21-13.

The most disputed match of the evening saw Ratchanok Intanon (photo) beat Yao Jie in straight games. The young Thai advances to the final of the competition where she is set to meet Tine Baun unless the Dane trips over the other Thai, Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, whom she will play on Wednesday for the other semi-final.

The men’s doubles competition will start on Wednesday with both semi-finals played that day.

Results:

Men’s singles
Group A
Peter Gade (DEN) beat Eric Pang (NED) 21-11, 21-13
Eric Pang (NED) vs Rajiv Ouseph (ENG) – Wednesday
Peter Gade (DEN) vs Rajiv Ouseph (ENG) – Wednesday

Group B
Jan O Jorgensen (DEN) beat Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (THA)  21-6, 21-16
Viktor Axelsen (DEN) vs Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (THA) – Wednesday
Jan O Jorgensen (DEN) vs Viktor Axelsen (DEN) – Wednesday

Women’s singles  semi-finals :
Ratchanok Intanon (THA) beat Yao Jie (NED)  21-17, 21-15
Tine Baun (DEN)  vs Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (THA) – Wednesday

Mixed doubles semi-finals
Joachim Fischer-Nielsen/ Christinna Pedersen (DEN) beat Nova Widianto / Pia Bernadet (INA) 21-8, 21-13
Thomas Laybourn/ Kamilla Rytter-Juhl (DEN) vs Sudket Prapakamol / Saralee Thounthungkam (THA) – Wednesday

Men’s doubles semi-finals:
Mathias Boe / Carsten Mogensen (DEN) vs Markis Kido / Nova Widianto (INA) – Wednesday
Mohd Zakry Latif / Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari (MAS) vs Rasmussen / Conrad-Pedersen (DEN) – Wednesday

The official website HERE

The live results HERE