Julie Bradbury the only player to reach two semi-finals at the Yonex All England Championships was able to go no further and was beaten in the women's and mixed doubles at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham yesterday.
Bradbury and Simon Archer, who had come back from 3-9 down in the final game against the fourth-seeded Swedes Jan-Eric Antonsson and Astrid Crabo in the early hours of Friday morning, this time managed a recovery from 0-7 in the first game against the Danes Thomas Lund, the world's best all-round doubles player, and Marlene Thomsen only as far as 13-all. Then they were swamped by Lund's skills and were beaten 18-14, 15-4.
Later Bradbury and Joanne Wright, seeded third, were beaten 15-10, 15- 3 by the unseeded Koreans Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-Ock, although the result was hardly a surprise.The Koreans have played few tournaments but are probably one of the two best combinations on the circuit.
Earlier Susi Susanti, perhaps the greatest women's singles player ever lost her title. She was beaten 12-11, 11-7 by Lim Xiaqing, the China-born European champion from Sweden, despite having a game point at 11-9 in the first game and making a comeback from 0-6 to 7-all in the second that suggested she might escape from trouble.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments