This time last year there was a huge surprise brewing in Basel at the Swiss Open. Do you remember what that was?
At the elite level, on occasion we see players or pairs going deep in a tournament after coming out from qualification, but it is not often that you have them go all the way and win the title. This is exactly what mixed doubles pair Mathias Bay-Smidt and Rikke Søby did, stunning the badminton world.
The Danish duo were promoted from qualification at the Swiss Open last year and embarked on a fantastic journey. In round two, against another pair promoted from qualification, Vlaar and Mitsova of Bulgaria, they had to go all the way to the wire, saving an incredible six match points to clinch the match 27-25.
In the semifinal, against top Chinese pair Lu Kai and Lu Chen, they did it again. Battling to get over the line and winning 20-22, 21-19, 23-21. In the final, they faced eighth seeds from Indonesia, Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentary. Once again, with great fighting spirit, they got through a three-game match, 21-18, 12-21, 21-16, to win their first World Tour event.
Focusing on the positive opportunities
As holders, Bay-Smidt and Søby were looking forward to return to Switzerland this year as the reigning champions. However, due to the global precautions taking place against Covid-19, and many sporting events being postponed or cancelled, they are not able to do so. Commenting on this, Bat-Smidt says.
-Of course, we would have loved to go to Switzerland to defend our biggest achievement but that is not what is on my mind at the moment. I am just focusing on the positive opportunities this time gives me and then I am figuring out different ways to maintain my form at home throughout this period. Then we will see what happens tomorrow.
Sharing his view on the recent BWF announcements about tournament cancellations, Bay-Smidt states.
-Regarding the BWF announcement I support it one hundred per cent because of course health comes before all kinds of competitions and sports in general. In these uncertain times I am just trying to focus on one day at a time, take all possible precautions and listen to the authorities’ advice regarding how to stop the spread of the virus.