Mia Blichfeldt and Yvonne Li met for the fourth time in 2021.
It is only March, but on Thursday Danish Mia Blichfeldt and Yvonne Li, Germany were facing each other for the fourth time in just 31 days.
The two players, who both will aim for a medal at the 2021 European Championships in April, met twice at the 2021 European Mixed Team Championships and once at Swiss Open, before the second round clash at All England.
Yvonne Li won the first match up at the European Mixed Team Championships, before the Danish European Games 2019 winner won two in a row. On Thursday the met in Birmingham, at Blichfeldt got her hattrick.
Blichfeldt in control
Mia Blichfeldt dominated throughout the match leading from start to finish. The 23-year-old won in straight games 21-16 21-17.
- I'm very happy and a little tired. I feel I didn't get enough recovery from yesterday. I tried to put it away and just focus on the game and what I could do about the situation.
- I am happy with how I kept fighting in the game, there were a lot of tough rallies and that hurt me, and maybe hurt Li too. It gave me the energy to push on with the rallies, Blichfeldt said
Thailand or USA
In the quarterfinals, Mia Blichfeldt will be facing either the two-times All England runner-up, Ratchanok Intanon, Thailand or American Iris Wang.
- It's going to be an exciting quarterfinal, it's my second.
- It's a nice stadium and it's a nice tournament in Europe to play and I'm very grateful to be playing tomorrow, Blichfeldt said.