Sunday, 22 Dec 2024

News | BWF World Tour

A Disappointing Result for Lauren Smith and Marcus Ellis at the Bali International Convention Centre

Lauren Smith and Marcus Ellis faced a challenging defeat in the first round of the Indonesia Open 2021. The Korean pair, Ko Sung Hyun and Eom Hye Won, outplayed the British duo with a convincing 21-13 21-13 victory. Smith, visibly upset, expressed her frustration, stating, “It’s not just the loss; it’s the overall performance. I have nothing positive to say about how I played today. It was a terrible defeat for us.”

Coming to Bali after an exhaustive series of tournaments in Europe, the physical demands on the players were significant. However, Smith clarified that her fitness level was not the issue. “Physically, I’m in good shape. I’ve recovered from last week and had ample training. The problem lies more in the mental aspect of the game. My serve and return were subpar. There’s a lot of room for improvement,” she acknowledged.

Ellis/Smith suffer their second loss to the Korean pair in two weeks.

Ellis added, “Last week, we were disappointed with our serve and return. We let go of many easy points. While the hall conditions may have posed some challenges, it’s no excuse. In fact, the rest of our game was even worse. We have to step up our game for the upcoming HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2021.”

Currently ranked third in the Race to Bali standings, Ellis/Smith are likely to secure a spot in the tournament. However, they acknowledge that they need to bring their A-game to compete with the top pairs. Ellis emphasized, “Our opponents know that when we are at our best, they can expect a physically demanding match. Lately, we haven’t been able to showcase that. We need to dig our heels in and assert ourselves. Building resilience and not crumbling under pressure can make a significant difference.”

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FAQs

1. What tournament did Lauren Smith and Marcus Ellis participate in?
Lauren Smith and Marcus Ellis competed in the Indonesia Open 2021.

2. How did they perform in the tournament?
They were eliminated in the first round by the Korean pair, Ko Sung Hyun and Eom Hye Won.

3. What does Lauren Smith attribute their poor performance to?
Lauren Smith believes their mental game, particularly the serve and return, was lacking.

4. Which upcoming tournament are Ellis and Smith preparing for?
They are preparing for the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2021.

5. What improvements do Ellis and Smith feel they need to make?
They feel the need to enhance their resilience and maintain their performance level throughout the match.

Conclusion

Lauren Smith and Marcus Ellis faced disappointment at the Bali International Convention Centre as they were defeated by Ko Sung Hyun and Eom Hye Won in the first round of the Indonesia Open 2021. Acknowledging their flaws, Smith and Ellis are determined to improve their mental game and overall performance to succeed in the upcoming HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2021. With their resilience and determination, they aim to provide tough competition for their opponents and showcase their true potential on the badminton court.

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