Nathan Roberston and new partner Jenny Wallwork set off their French Open campaign today defeating Indonesian opponents inside 30 minutes.
Playing their second tournament together, Robertson and Wallwork came from behind in the second half of the second game to clinch the contest against Endang Nursugianti and Anggun Nugroho on their third match point, 21-18 23-21.
The pair will now face team-mates Robert Adcock and Heather Olver in the second round with Denmark’s third seeds; Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl likely to be awaiting the winners in the quarter-finals on Friday.
There was also sucess for eighth seeds and Denmark finalists, David Lindley and Suzanne Rayappan. The duo knocked out experienced Indonesian Flandy Limpele and new partner Greysia Polii 18-21 21-18 21-17.
England head coach Ian Wright will be impressed with his team form as England provides six contenders in the last 16 line-up.
Fourth seeds and European champions Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg and sixth seeds Robert Blair and Scotland’s Imogen Bankier, who defeated Robertson and Wallwork on the way to the semi-finals of last week’s Denmark Open in Odense, were among the pairs who benefited from first-round byes.
However, there were disappointments for 2007 world junior silver medallists, Chris Adcock and Gabby White who failed to triumph, after a very close battle with Indonesia’s Devin Lahardi Fitriawan and Lita Nurlita 21-18 21-19.
In the women’s doubles, Kellogg and Russia’s Anastasia Russkikh received a walkover into second round after their Malaysian first-round opponents Haw Chiou Hwee and Lim Pek Siah pulled out.
Natalie Cooper, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
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