Saarland: Despite losing to World No. 3 Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the Denmark Open final 19-21, 17-21 two weeks ago, the Rio Olympic gold medalist Carolina Marin from Spain has become a heavy favorite to win the 2020 SaarLorLux Open, a BWF Tour Super 100 event when she begins her first-round match against Hristomira Popvska of Bulgaria in Saarland, Germany, on Wednesday.
Marin’s potential road to the final could include fifth-seeded Qi Xuefei of France, and third-seeded Kirsty Gilmour of Scotland in the semi-finals.
In men’s competition, runner-up for the 2020 Denmark Open – Rasmus Gemke of Denmark, who produced many brilliant and unpredictable rallies against compatriot and good friend World No. 3 Anders Antonsen in the Denmark Open final, has been seeded top at SaarLorLux Open.
Gemke had a first-round bye and will kick off his second-round campaign facing teammate Kim Bruun. If the seeds hold, Gemke could set up a potential quarter-final against fifth-seeded compatriot Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus, with a possible semis against fourth-seeded Brice Leverdez of France.
The bottom half is spearheaded by No. 2 seed and defending champion, Lakshya Sen of India. The 19-year-old is set to play Howard Shu of the USA in the second round.
