Adcocks frustrated after semi-finals loss

Leeds star Gabby Adcock admitted her dramatic YONEX All England Open Badminton Championship semi-final defeat was a bitter pill to swallow.
Chris and Gabby AdcockChris and Gabby Adcock
Chris and Gabby Adcock

Gabby and husband Chris got off to a disappointing start against fifth seeds Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen as they trailed 11-4 at the midway point of the first game at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena.

And while they clawed it back to 10-12 at one point, they ended up losing the opener 21-13.

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The English pairing have never beaten the Danes but they looked set to take it to a final set as they led 20-15 and were then awarded the winning point - only for it to be overturned on appeal.

And Nielsen and Pedersen produced a remarkable comeback to book their place in Sunday’s final with a 21-13, 22-20 win.

Gabby said: “Comebacks like that do happen but it is just frustrating that we couldn’t do anything different.

“She caught me twice with the flick that I had been reading really well but credit to them, they are an experienced pair who have been playing for a long time and it is just frustrating that we did not switch on that they are going to be doing something different at the end of the match or even take our time a bit longer.

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“It is just a sore feeling right now not to have taken that second because we were feeling really good with the way we were playing.

“They are really experienced at the end of games so they can reel off points but we are gutted to not take the second set.”

But it was still a hugely successful tournament for the Adcocks as their victory over the world’s number two duo Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir on Friday meant they were the first Brits to reach the semi-final of the YONEX All England since 2008.

The Adcocks also created history in December by becoming the first British players to win a title at the end-of-year World Superseries Finals and with the duo seventh in the world, they are closing in on qualification for the Rio Olympics.

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Gabby added: “We are only 25 and 26 and we already have so many experiences in our bag but definitely we will remember this experience for next time.

“We are quick learners and we like to put things right quite quickly and we will definitely do that.”

You can watch the world’s best players at the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships at Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena from 8-13 March. For tickets visit allenglandbadminton.com

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