Five European players booked their places in the quarter final of their respective Men’s and Women’s Singles Events at the Singapore Smash 2022. One of the most impressive wins in the Round of 16 was recorded by Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA who beat World No.10 XU Xin of China 3-2 (11-6 8-11 11-9 9-11 11-9)
“I’m really lost for words right now. These are the matches and moments you work for. You practise all your life as you want to beat the best of the best. And today was one of these days and moments where I did something which I never did before. And not many have also done so before. For sure I’ll have a good night sleep today. When you play against the top Chinese players you need to have self-confidence. You need to believe you can beat them. Even though I have never beaten XU Xin before tonight’s match I don’t go in and say I cannot do it and will lose. That’s not what I will say to myself. I told myself I can do it” said Patrick FRANZISKA.
In the match for the semis he will meet top seeded FAN Zhendong of China.
Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden beat Benedikt DUDA of Germany in a close four games win (6-11 11-4 11-6 11-8). KARLSSON will face World No.5 LIANG Jingkun in the quarterfinals.
“I know it’s one of my closest friends on the tour so it’s always special to play Benedikt. The match was very tactical and we forced ourselves to difficult positions. I think I managed to handle things a little bit better so I’m very happy to win the match the today ” said Kristian KARLSSON.
Dang QIU of Germany is somewhat of a surprise quarterfinalist the World No.41 has defeated Omar ASSAR Jonathan GROTH and Anton KALLBERG. Remarkably only one game has been dropped along the way and that was in his Round of 16 match against KALLBERG.
World No.19 Sofia POLCANOVA has booked her place in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Singles with a four game win over and Suthasini SAWETTABUT (11-8 8-11 11-6 11-9). POLCANOVA joined Yaun Jia Nan of France in the quarters.
