German Yvonne Li is ready for the quarterfinal at Denmark Open 2020 after a win against Kristin Kuuba from Estonia.
Kuuba had a walk-over in the first round as first seed Akane Yamaguchi from Japan had withdrawn from the tournament, so her first match was today against Li.
The German took the lead in the first game and managed to keep the lead throughout the game and won 21-16. In the second game Li won the first point, but after Kuuba controlled the rest of the game sending the match into a decider after winning 21-13.
- I think I was already tightening up in the end of the first game. I lost a lot of points there and the second game just kept going like that. I did not know what to do and she was waiting for my shots and knew where I was playing them. It was really not pretty to watch. I was just forcing the points and made a lot of mistakes, Li said.
It sounds unreal
Looking at the first half of the third game, Kuuba continued controlling as she was leading 9-2. From her Li won eight points in a row and was suddenly leading. Talking about what she was thinking in the beginning of the third game, Li said.
- I was thinking that it was pretty hopeless, I did not know what to do at all. I was making so many easy mistakes, but I knew I had it in me to improve and to catch up. I knew if I could just change a little bit, I could change the whole match and I am really happy I was able to do that in the end.
Li ended up winning the third game 21-14 and is now ready for the quarter final where she will play either Léonice Huet from France or Lianne Tan from Belgium.
- It sounds unreal. It is very lucky for me that the two seeded players pulled out. It is a big advance for everyone who is in that quarter, Li said.