The IWT Polish Open has officially started. A full day with a lot of matches, a pending gummi-arm playoff, and some positions still left to play for.
Ahlmer/Kurek take the mixed doubles title, silver and bronze yet to be decided in a gummi-arm playoff
The mixed elite doubles draw has been incredibly close at the Polish Open. Ahlmer/Kurek won all their matches and can call themselves IWT Polish Open Champions. Their first match against Hong Kong China’s Joyce Chan/Ching Ng by one point in a gummi-arm. The score was +1 (21-17 5-21 21-15 22-15). They went on to win their match against UK’s Ranson/Stahl +5 (21-17 12-21 21-12 18-17) and continued their winning form against Kaptein/Lorkiewicz +9 (17-21 16-21 21-14 21-10).
All the other positions have to be decided by a gummi-arm playoff tomorrow, which will be a first in Racketlon Doubles history. Ranson/Stahl, Kaptein/Lorkiewicz and Joyce Chan/Ching Ng all have the same points, as Kaptein/Lorkiewicz beat Joyce Chan/Ching Ng, Joyce Chan/Ching Ng beat Ranson/Stahl, and Ranson/Stahl beat Kaptein/Lorkiewicz! This means that they will play one gummi arm point against each other in all four sports. They will toss before each point is played, and the winner of the toss can choose to serve or receive. The pair who receives can choose who receives the serve, and in squash each pair nominates one player to play the gummi arm point. We definitely can’t wait for this tomorrow.
Lenggenhager/Ternon dominate and win the title
In the men’s elite doubles, Lenggenhager/Ternon got the better of no 1 seeds Kurek/Ching Ng in the final. The Swiss/French duo did not touch a tennis racket in any of their three matches, showing that they were on another level today. They were especially strong in badminton, losing only 11 points in three matches. The score in the final was +38 (21-9 21-6 21-10).
Women’s podium to be decided on Saturday
The women’s elite doubles final standings will be decided tomorrow in the final round-robin match between Atkinson/Ranson and Ahlmer/Kaptein. At the moment, Ahlmer/Kaptein are leading the table with four points and still one match left to play. They beat Joyce Chan/Sákovics +20 (21-9 21-4 21-17) and Del Favero/Tomková + 33 (21-6 21-3). Joyce Chan/Sákovics are currently in second, having won their matches against Del Favero/Tomková +45 (21-8 21-4 21-6) and Atkinson/Ranson +23 (21-19 21-4 21-17). Ranson/Atkinson are in third, but this might still change because they are playing their last match at 3:15 PM on Saturday.
B men’s doubles and mixed doubles
Volf/Pichler won the men’s B doubles after defeating surprise finalists Szlazak/Wilamowski +8 (23-21 19-21 21-13 14-14). Szlazak/Wilamowski played their first IWT tournament, and they started well by beating the no 3 seeds Kurak/Muc +19 (21-18 21-15 21-9 1-3) in their opening match. Pichler/Volf had a walkover in their first match, and beat Döbörhegyi/Sági +39 (21-5 21-8 21-11) on their way to the final. The mixed B Doubles was won by Hungarian duo Sákovics/Döbörhegyi after they won their semi-final match +5 against Beranová/Volf +13 (21-7 21-10 4-21 17-12). Unfortunately the final wasn’t played, Atkinson/Przemyslaw won their semi final against Kalicka/Kalicki +16 (21-12 17-21 21-11 7-6) before having to withdraw from the final.
All the results from day one can be found here
Sanne Veldkamp/ Fir Media Officer
