First ever Japanese at English Open

The first ever Racketlon player will travel from Japan to play the English Open from 26^th to 28^th of October in London. Hirona Sudo (see pic) has received a wildcard from FIR to compete in the elite draw with the very best players. Top favourites for victory are world number one Jesper Ratzer and reigning world champion Zuzana Kubanova. The male world champion Calum Reid will also give his comeback but only in mixed doubles and with his team, defending Champions League champions Union Racketlon Klosterneuburg from Austria. All Olympic draws and the time schedule for the first rounds are now online on www.resultreporter.com

Austria vs. Denmark in Champions League

Friday is Champions League day, where six club teams will compete for the title. In two groups of three the defending champions Union Racketlon Klosterneuburg with top players Reid, Schubert, Manners, Jonsson, Weigl Kubanova, Seitz, Bugl face Racketlon Team Middlesex from England and Racketlon Team Cardiff from Wales for the place in the final. In the other group St. Petersburg Racketlon Team from Russia will battle English Racketlon Team Surrey and the Copenhagen Racoons with top stars Ratzer, Adamsson, Hansen, and the Zeolis. The final will then be the highlight of the Saturday evening program. All squads are published in the pdf below, if any players are still looking for teams please e-mail Tournament Director Keith Lesser who is still  looking for some substitutions keithlesser@yahoo.com

Wildcard for Poker star Hansen

The Men elite 16-player-draw sees one clear favourite with Jesper Ratzer who has not lost a single match this year yet. The Dane should have an easy job until the semifinal, where Stefan Adamsson should be waiting unless Markus Zeoli or wildcard player Hirona Sudo can surprise. “Nobody knows about Racketlon Japan yet. Probably I am the only player.” On the bottom half anything else but a semi between Manners and Schubert would be a surprise, but the Danes Jonsson and Hansen (who got the second wildcard) shall not be underestimated. The poker star was on a practice camp with top players in Monte Carlo and has improved a lot. The men elite doubles does not look so strong this time, because many rather play Champions League, which makes Zeoli/Peterkovsky top seeded.

Four top-five women on the spot

Only 8 players in the women elite draw, but a cut-off at WR 16 makes the International World Tour event one of the strongest women draws ever. With four players of the top five present and the home court players Isabelle Tyrrell and English newcomer and wildcard player Barbara Capper. Top favourites nevertheless are world number one Nathalie Zeoli and reigning world champion Zuzana Kubanova. In women doubles the Czech will pair with her world champs partner Simone Seitz to aim for the title and mixed will be an interesting battle between top pairs Zeoli/Ratzer, Bugl/Reid and Eisler/Adamsson.

Players party in Britains biggest casino

Tournament director Keith Lesser has a special plan for Saturday nights players party. After the Champions League final food will be served at the sports centre, before the journey to Aspers Casino starts. Britain's biggest casino has 40 roulette and blackjack tables, 92 gaming terminals, a 150-seat poker room and 150 slot machines. The Sky Bar has a DJ between 10pm and 4am to shake off for all Racketlon players. And on the outside roof terrace with panoramic views of the Olympic stadium (with a Shisha bar to boot) romantic moments are guaranteed.

Marcel Weigl, FIR-Executive President

Keith Lesser, Tournament Director

Draws www.resultreporter.com

Tournament Website www.englishracketlon.org