Indonesian rookies send Adcocks home early
JAKARTA: Reigning mixed doubles World Superseries Finals champions and seventh seeds Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock of England were bundled out of the BCA Indonesian Open here Tuesday by Indonesia's rookie pair Alfian Eko Prasetya-Annisa Saufika.
The Indonesians stunned the husband-wife team in a three-set thriller, winning 24-22, 18-21, 21-16 in 57 minutes. But another homegrown pair were were not as fortunate. All-England champions Praveen Jordan-Debby Susanto failed to get past the first round.
Praveen-Debby were beaten 15-21, 10-21 by China's Lu Kai-Huang Yaqiaong in a 33 minute match.
Two other Indonesian pairs stayed on course. Riky Widianto-Richi Puspita Dili pulled off a 21-13, 14-21, 21-18 win over Taiwan's Reginald Lee Chun-hei-Chau Hoi-wah.
Second seeds and world No 2 Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana were impressive in their 21-10, 21-6 win over Australians Sawan Serasinghe-Setyana Mepasa.
Meanwhile, Ratchanok Intanon surrendered a her title with an stunning 21-15, 21-18 defeat to unseeded Sun Yu of China in the women's singles at the Istora Senayan.
Top seed Carolina Marin of Spain however cleared the first hurdle when she won 21-18, 21-11 against Indonesian youngster Hera Desi in 39 minutes.
Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China was stretched to three sets before prevailing 16-21, 21-8, 21-11 against Indonesia's Ruselli Hartawan in a come-from behind win in 42 minutes.
Xuerui's compatriots Wang Yihan and Wang Shixian also advanced to the second round. Yihan defeated Commonwealth Games champion Michelli Li of Canada 21-19, 21-18 while Shixian took 68 minutes to subpdue Bae Yeon-ju pf South Korea 21-12, 15-21, 21-12.
Febby Angguini and Fitriani Fitriani kept Indonesia's hopes alive by winning their first round matches - with Febby defeating Hong Kong's Yip Pui Yin 18-21, 21-16, 21-19 while Fitriani won 21-14, 13-21, 21-16 against compatriot Gregoria Mariska.
World Superseries Finals champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan also advanced to the second round. The fifth seed outplayed local newcomer Jauza Fadhila Sugiarto 21-8, 21-15 in 23 minutes.
Indonesian Uber Cupper Hana Ramadhini also failed to clear the first hurdle when she lost 17-21, 8-21 to Korea's seventh seed Sung Ji-hyun in 40 minutes.
Related Article
World and Olympic Champions Competing at the BAMTC 2023
Job Vacancy: Chief Operating Officer
