Germany: Top seeds Chris and Gabby Adcock have coasted through to Saturday’s mixed doubles semi-finals of the Bitburger Open.
Last year’s finalists beat the Russian-Indian partnership of Vladimir Ivanov and Ashwini Ponnappa 21-19 21-9.
The Adcocks, who have yet to drop a game, will now play fifth seeds Si Wei Zheng and Qingchen Chen in their toughest assignment yet for a place in the final – as they attempt a second title in a week after reaching last Sunday’s YONEX French Open denouement.
“That could have been a tricky match, but we managed to bring a decent level,” Gabby said after their 28-minute win.
In the lower half, local favourites Michael Fuchs and Birgit Michels will play Indonesia’s Alfian Eko Prasetya and Annisa Saufika.
The Germans will be no pushovers after they beat the Adcocks in last year’s Bitburger final.
Meanwhile, the English number one partnership are the only home interest left in the tournament after several pairs exited on Thursday.
Berry Angriawan and Ricky Karanda Suwardi, of Indonesia, overcame Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge in a tight three-game affair 21-16 18-21 21-17.
Eighth seeds Heather Olver and Lauren Smith will also be disappointed after going down in three to Ekanerina Bolotova and Evgeniya Kosetskaya, the unseeded Russians.
Sophie Brown and Kate Robertshaw’s women’s doubles bid also ended at the last 16 stage when they lost 13-21 21-6 21-15 to China’s fifth seeds, Xia Huan and Qianxin Zhong.
Badminton England
