Marcus Ellis sets sights on Olympics after run to All England semi-finals

The Huddersfield-born player and mixed doubles partner Lauren Smith had been on a memorable run to the last four as they knocked out the world No 4 and No 10 pairings, but came unstuck against fifth seeds and eventual winners Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti to lose in three games. But it has been an impressive couple of months for the world No 12-ranked pair, who stormed to Thailand Masters glory in January and duelled it out with some of the globe’s elite at Arena Birmingham this week.

And as they picked up valuable ranking points that all but sealed their seat on the plane to Tokyo, Ellis said the Games was what 2020 was really about.

“The last year we can both honestly say the Olympics have been at the back of our minds, but I think everyone is the same,” he said. “If they’re being perfectly honest it’s all it’s about, this year – this has been a fantastic week and hopefully a really big boost to our ranking, but we’ll see what lies around the corner, because there’s a lot of uncertainty coming our way in the next month or two.

“We were obviously trying our best but we just didn’t get things right today – there were spots in the game where we did get things right, but they’re one of those pairs where if you don’t get it right they can really just steamroll you.

“That’s what happened to us in parts, especially in that third set.

“But that’s why they’re ranked wherever they’re ranked in the world – they’ve won so many Super Series events this year and that is why.”

Ellis and Smith went behind as Jordan and Oktavianti took the first game 21-15, before brilliantly levelling in the second after coming from behind to clinch a 23-21 triumph.

But it was not to be in the decider, as the Indonesian duo showed exactly why they are current French and Denmark Open champions with a polished 21-11 win.

And while Jordan was booked for slow play in the first game - prompting complaints from Ellis - the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist said his antics had nothing to do with the end result.

“I think he was just trying to be a little bit cheeky and slow the game down,” he added.

“It’s just how they want to play, and we get so frustrated about it because we want it to be a good game.

“But everyone know he’s one of the most dangerous players from the rear court - he’s got unbelievable power and unbelievable skill.”

Viktor Axelsen fulfilled a ‘dream come true’ as he romped to an imperious first Yonex All England title.

The Great Dane was in scintillating form in the Midlands, breezing past No.1 seed Chou Tien-Then 21-13 21-14 to make amends for his defeat against Kento Momota in the final last year.

Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe won a thrilling men’s doubles final, toppling world No.1s and two-time champions Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in three captivating games.

Tai Tzu-ying enacted revenge for her 2019 defeat against Chen Yufei in the women’s singles showpiece.