The first day of the Czech Open was an exciting one with new winners being crowned today, and quite a lot of medals for the Czech players who are performing extremely well on home soil. It also saw some first round of the men’s elite being played.
Kaptein/Ladner claim the women’s doubles title
Kaptein/Ladner got off to a great start today, as they won the women’s doubles title, which is a third women’s elite doubles title for Kaptein this season and a first elite women’s doubles title for Ladner. They beat Mai/Mika +44 (21-6 21-6 21-7) in the semi-finals. In the final they faced Hlavacova/Rábová who got the better of Hanackova/Nováková. Kaptein/Ladner got a head start and didn’t let go, they defeated second seeds Hlavacova/Rábová +12 (21-11 21-9 17-21 4-10) in the final. Hanackova/Nováková beat Mai/Mika +17 (14-21 21-6 21-17 10-5) in the 3/4 playoff.
A first mixed doubles title for Hlavacova/Egermaier
Czech duo Egermaier/Hlavacova claimed a surprise victory over second seeds Ettenauer/Pichler beating them +10 (9-21 21-6 18-21 21-11) in the semi-finals. Top seeds Kaptein/Koubaa saw off German youngsters Reissenauer/Böhm beating them +11 (21-16 21-18 21-17 10-11) in their semi-final.
A second final of the day for both Hlavacova and Kaptein, and a tight match again. This time it were Hlavacova/Egermaier who were victorious. After being on the podium last year with a bronze medal they added a gold one to their collection. Kaptein/Koubaa took table tennis 21-16, but lost badminton 21-11. They bounced back in squash taking it 21-17 before Hlavacova/Egermaier sealed their title by taking tennis 21-12. The overall score was +10 (16-21 21-11 17-21 21-12).
The bronze medal was won by Reissenauer/Böhm who beat Ettenauer/Pichler in another tight match, taking it +9 (8-21 21-17 21-17 21-7).
Griffiths/Wilson win the men’s doubles title
A great final between top seeds Böhm/Vaclahovsky and Griffiths/Wilson who got through contrasting semi-finals. Griffiths/Wilson got the better of Pichler/Volf by +38 (21-10 21-6 21-9) winning by a big margin. Böhm/Vaclahovsky had to battle past Horácek/Svec, taking it by only 6 points. Horácek/Svec took a big lead in table tennis, 21-9, Böhm/Vaclahovsky bounced back in badminton taking it 21-9 as well, leaving the score even going into squash. Böhm/Vaclahovsky then took squash 21-14 and a tense tennis match saw them take the match 15-16 with an overall score of +6 (9-21 21-9 21-14 15-16).
Griffiths/Wilson got off to a small lead in the final taking table tennis 21-19, and then a comfortable 21-5 in badminton. A huge squash battle going their way 24-22 meant they only needed 2 points in tennis which they did, claiming their first title together with an overall score of +22 (21019 21-5 24-22 2-0). A first elite doubles title for Wilson and a third this season for Griffiths. Horácek/Svec defeated Pichler/VOlf +17 (21-15 0-22 21-6 5-5) to claim the bronze medal.
B doubles titles for Kniezek/Schneider and Voplakalova/Port
Kniezek/Schneider won the men’s B doubles title beating Sach/Sach +16 (11-21 21-17 21-9 16-6). The bronze medal went to Ried/King who beat Åberg/Giertz +8 (12-21 21-19 21-17 19-8). In the mixed B it were Port/Voplakalova who defeated fellow Czechs Rábová/Kubíček in an incredibly close final by +4 (13-21 21-9 15-21 21-15). Von Heimburg/Börner got the better of Nováková/Bodem to claim the bronze medal. The score was +12 (21-18 19-21 21-13 13-10).
Men’s B doubles | Mixed B doubles
Junior doubles titles for Tomková/Zobač, Zobač/Fojtik, and Tomková/Del Favero
Tomková/Zobač won the mixed u16 doubles title in an exciting final against Del Favero/Jendřejek beating them +4 (21-15 21-19 16-21 19-18). Radl/Sam defeated Hanáčková/Borovička +23 (21-17 21-9 21-14) for the bronze medal. It was another title for Zobač as he and Fojtík defeated Austrian brothers Sam/Sam +10 (21-12 29-22 21-19 13-12) in the final. Jendřejek/Kniezek beat Borchert/Borchert +22 (21-18 21-17 21-6) in the 3/4 playoff. Tomková/Del Favero won both their group matches to take the girls u21 doubles title. They beat bronze medalists Radl/Hauser +19 (21-18 22-20 21-11 7-3) and silver medalists Byrtusová/Beranová +21 (21-11 21-18 21-13).
Mixed u16 | junior u16 doubles | Girls u21 doubles
Senior doubles title for Hobzik/Pospisil
Hobzik/Pospisil took the senior +45 title by defeating Borovička/Sági +22 (21-13 21-13 21-16 1-0). Jaschke/Muhl beat Gomm/Hummel +17 (21-10 21-18 18-21 11-5) to claim the bronze medal.
The tournament can be followed via the live stream (certain matches) on the Czech Racketlon facebook page and weblivescore.com which was kindly provided by the ERU and RFA for this event. We can look forward to some great singles matches tomorrow and another full day of Racketlon!
