Since our last FIR World Tour outing in Malta, just a month ago, we have seen some sights in sport. From a dancing goalkeeper getting Australia into the football World Cup, the England cricket team winning matches and the sport of Golf self-destructing. After a month of surprises, were we going to see any in Zurich as the IWT Swiss Open got underway, for our final visit to the Vitis Sportscenter? Well there is only one way to find out!
Seeds Dominate The Men’s Doubles
I wanted to milk the whole “shocks” angle, but I really couldn’t. Nothing about the Men’s doubles is going to let me. That said top seeds, Germany’s Max Plettenberg and Cornelius Radermacher had to work for it against Emanuel Schopf (Aut) and world tour new boy Sion Wiggin (Nzl). The Austrian/Kiwi pairing had ended the hopes of a home pairing in their opener, found themselves in something of a hole against the Germans. Arriving at the tennis court 11 points down, they threw everything at the Germans, but Emmanuel & Sion fell agonisingly short of a stunning comeback, being 2 points away from the victory when Max & Cornelius reached their 11 point target.
Smoother sailing for the second seeds, Damien Andre (Fra) & Nicolas Lenggenhager (Swi); who batted away the all-British (all-Kent) challenge of Ray Jordan & Jack Bishop. The Brits had cruised into the semi-final seeing off Patrick Burgi (Swi) and Steffan Neuman (Ger); just had no answer for the second seeds, particularly on the badminton court; a 21-7 defeat there at the core of the second seeds victory before tennis.
In the final, and with the second seeds (badminton) and top seeds (squash) trading similar scorelines, it ultimately came down to the Tennis’; and after Max & Cornelius had won the TT 21-14; they cruised through the tennis (this time), 14-9 to claim the Men’s Doubles Cow Bell! Emanuel & Sion took 3rd place.
An Upset (of sorts) in the Women’s
Four pairs were in the women’s doubles, with the seeded pairings, top seeds Myriam Enmer (Fra) & Irina Olsacher (Aut), and second seeds home favourite Nicole Eisler (Swi) & Stine Jacobsen (Den). The top seeds faced all German pairing of Silke Altmann & Astrid Reimer-Kern. After an edgy TT, which the top seeds won 22-20, the pairs exchanged the badminton and squash to similar margines (21-6, 7-21) to make it a 3 point lead onto the tennis court for the top seeds. Here, Myriam & Irina came into their own, dismantling the Germans to win 19-8 and make the final. Despite losing their opening TT against Kirstin Kaptein (Ned) & Adeline Kilchenmann (Swi), the second seeds quickly asserted their authority on proceedings, dominating the badminton and squash before wrapping up a comfortable 7 points on the tennis court for victory.
Once again, we had top seeds vs second seeds, would now see an upset like the rest of the sporting world? It was first blood to the top seeds who edged a cagey TT 21-19. The second seeds hit back, taking an equally cagey badminton 21-18; but the top seeds would carry a 1 point lead into squash. It was here that the second seeds did the damage, a crushing 21-6 victory, left them needing just 8 points to win. Myriam & Irina fought hard, they reached 12 points, but there was no stopping Nicole & Stine, upsetting the seedings and claiming the Women’s Doubles Cow Bell. Astrid and Silke claimed third place.
Mixed Fortunes For Seeded Pairs
Six pairs came together for the Mixed Doubles with top seeds Nicolas Lenggenhager & Myriam Enmer hoping they could go one step further then in the previous doubles of the day, both having already finished second in a doubles. Second seeds were the Austrian pairing of Emanuel Schopf & Irina Olsacher; also looking for a Cow Bell to add to their silverware from teh day (3rd and 2nd respectively). With first round byes, they waited for the semi-final opponents with baited breath. The top seeds would face Cornelius Radermacher & Stine Jacobson, backing up their early wins with an opening victory over Sion Wiggin and Carola Von Heimburg (Ger), a win built on a solid set of badminton. The second seeds would face a Swiss pairing, Nicole Eisler & Noah Mamie, who overcame the challenge of German duo Silke Altmann & Steffan Neuman.
The Swiss pair however were not able to overcome the second seeds, the Austrians lost the TT, but ruled the rest of the match, sealing victory with a 10-9 win on the tennis court. The drama was in the top of half of the draw as Stine & Cornelius faced the top seeds. The top seeds won the TT here, 21-19; but after that they faced a battle. Cornelius & Stine won the badminton and squash, to open up a 12 point lead heading to the tennis court. They made short work of top seeds Nicolas & Myriam here, easing to a 10-5 win to seal a place in the final against the second seeds.
Into the final, and the early blows were scored by Cornelius and Stine, 21-17 and 21-13, opening up a useful 12 point lead into squash. The second seeds Emanuel and Irina struck back taking the squash 21-18, but still trailing by 9 points into the tennis. Despite a good hustle from the Austrians, they were not able to stop Cornelius and Stine winning their second bells of the weekend. Each of them will start their singles campaign on Saturday, with the Triple Bells (Crowns) available to them both if they can win their Singles Draws.
Nicolas & Myriam finished third.
Rounding Up the Herd
Away from the Elite draws there were also victories for Mark Steeden (Gbr) & Frederik Floether (Swi) in the Men’s B/C Doubles with victory over French pair Stephane Quiquempois & Thomas Vico. There was more home joy in the Mixed B Doubles as Swiss maestro Esther Dubendorfer & Antony Duthuille (Fra) defeated Jack Bishop (Gbr) & Dara Ladner (Swi). The Women’s B Doubles will kick off on Saturday morning, so look out for that one tomorrow! The Men’s C Doubles saw more Swiss glory as Andreas Kotala & Lucas Mateo Moreno won their three player box league and also in the Mixed C Doubles as Bruno Scherrer & Victoria Dubendorfer stormed to victory in a 6 pairing draw.
The Men’s F Doubles, for Swiss (or local) players only was won by Germany’s Gabriel Fischer & Noah Lehmann (Swi) who topped the four team box league ahead of Swiss pair Jonathan Frei & Robin Peter. Finally, the German’s dominated the Men’s +45s Doubles with second seeds Thomas Knaack & Ulrich Schlepphorst defeating top seeds Frank Kleiber & Volker Sach in the final.
James Pope / FIR Media Team
