The second day of the Swiss Open 2021 saw a few long-awaited reunions that brought smiles for Yvonne Li and Pablo Abian.
Yvonne Li last faced Malaysia’s Soniia Cheah at the Bitburger Open four years ago. Li was able to take that one in two, but today she needed one game to get going.
-I think my speed was alright, but I just made too many mistakes, especially in the first game. I was over-pacing a little bit. I just wasn’t able to do what I wanted to do at the beginning and the rallies were too short.
The German number one was able to dig in and find her flow in the second game.
-She had some good quality shots and in the second I started getting them back, so she got a bit impatient.
-I know she’s an attacking player but I think my movement is better and I tried to emphasis on my movement and make her run and pressure her in the back so I have space in the front to end it, Li added.
With almost an hour on court, Li took the match 15-21, 21-13, 21-16 but assured us that she is feeling in good form and eager for more.
-I would have wanted to play shorter, but I think I am ready and physically fit, so I am just excited to play tomorrow.
Li will play Mia Blichfeldt in the second round. The two played twice in Finland for the 2021 European Mixed Team Championships two weeks ago. They took a win each there, so tomorrow can be seen as the decider.
Long time no see for Pablo Abian and Kashyap Parupalli
Two veterans of the game, Abian, 35 and Kashyap, 34, clashed in round one. Last time they played was in 2009 for the Open Volant d'Or. Both players love to grind out matches with long rallies, so perhaps surprisingly, the match saw Abian storm to a fast and efficient two-game victory.
-I feel very good. I played a focused game from the first point of the match. I played against one of the best players in the world and I am happy with the result.
Abian won against the number 24 in the world in just 37 minutes, 21-15, 21-10. He explained how it has been hard to train as normal before this comeback tournament.
-It has been hard to train with everything that is happening around the world, but in Spain, with my coach and sparring partners, we could train more or less really good.
The Spaniard will now face another Indian in fifth seed Sai Praneeth. Once again, you have to go back a decade for their two previous encounters in 2011. Both went to Abian.
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