Qualifications for Yonex Denmark Open were played today and seen from a Danish point of view results were not overwhelming even though the players delivered solid entertainment and some matches left fans holding their breath.

Joachim Persson was set to play against Scott Evans in the first match. Both Persson and Evans play for Danish clubs and when they meet, Persson always takes home the victory. This was not the case today however. Persson who is coming back from a knee injury played a slow first set and lost 8-21. Joachim Persson got a hold of himself and fought on to the third set, where Evans won 23-21 after a nerve wrecking ending. Persson was not happy about the game but is optimistic for the future.

- Of course I am unhappy that I didn’t win the match but I have only just started training 100 % 7-8 days ago so I am happy that I am able to play on a decent level in the 2nd and 3rd set where I did my best. I think it is possible that I will play well again, maybe next week already in France.

Evans was very happy with his victory, which was the first ever against Persson.

- I knew it would be a hard game so I am very glad that I won. Joachim picked up his game quite a bit and picked up the speed quite a lot, and it took me a bit long to get used to it but once I got used to the pace it was fine. I felt very comfortable at the high game and it worked out well for me.

Hear the whole interview onyoutube.

Also Danish Christian Lind delivered a three set thriller but lost after a great game against Dmytro Zavadsky from Ukraine.

- Of course I am very disappointed right now. I had home court and I really wanted to win. I should have kept the discipline and won the net, Christian Lind said.

No luck for Denmark in the women's single

In the women’s single Denmark had five players in the qualification but sadly none made it to the main tournament. The closest was Mette Poulsen who won against Charmaine Reid from Canada in a convincing game that ended 21-6/21-16. The joy was short and facing Jiyuaun Chen from Singapore Mette Poulsen lost in two sets. Even though she lost her final match Poulsen still sees Denmark Open as a good experience

-   In the first set I was very stiff and I didn’t believe in myself. In the second set I got more confident and my offensive game was much better and I started to relax much more. It was amazing and cool playing in front of a home crowd and it was a fantastic experience.

 Unfortunately Karina Jørgensen lost 18 – 21 / 14-21 to Linda Zechiri while Sandra – Maria Jensen and Camilla Martens also lost their matches and are no longer in the run for the main tournament. This means that none of the Danish single players who played qualifications will be playing again tomorrow.

For scores and positions at Yonex Denmark Open follow thislink