Thursday, 21 Nov 2024

News | BWF World Tour

Their recent run of losses in the first round of tournaments has come to an end, and Alexander Dunn and Adam Hall are feeling motivated to achieve more success this week. Prior to their victory today at the VICTOR Hong Kong Open 2023, the Scottish duo had experienced early exits from the Singapore, Indonesia, and China Opens, facing opponents with higher rankings. Additionally, they had faced four other first-round defeats this season.

“We did win a match at the World Championships, you know,” joked Hall, referring to their opponents’ retirement in Copenhagen last month. “But in all seriousness, winning at this level is never something to take for granted. The sport is becoming increasingly challenging.”

Dunn added, “We don’t want easy first rounds. While winning them is great, our focus now is on winning second rounds. That’s what we’ll be aiming for this week.”

Their recent match could have had a different outcome if Dunn and Hall hadn’t fought back from an 18-15 deficit in the opening game. This turnaround proved critical for the 27th-ranked pair.

“Sneaking that win really gave us momentum,” Hall explained. “The conditions here are quite tricky, with fast shuttles and smashes that are tough to anticipate. We had to relax and find our rhythm. Towards the end of that game, our serving improved significantly.”

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Dunn agreed, saying, “We knew that if we could establish a three or four-point lead, it would put pressure on our opponents. And that’s exactly what happened. But we had to maintain our level of play throughout.”

The 24-year-old also admitted that their 2-0 head-to-head record against their opponents provided them with a psychological advantage.

“Having that record definitely helped a lot. The previous two victories were more comfortable for us, as we set the tone right from the start. Today wasn’t quite the same, but we got the job done, and that’s always pleasing.”

Up next for Dunn and Hall are European Games gold medalists and World Championships runners-up Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen. Despite three previous unsuccessful attempts against them, the Scottish pair remains determined to come out on top.

“We lost to them in both of those events. It’s not going to be easy, but we need to bring our best level of play,” acknowledged Hall. “In men’s doubles these days, a lot depends on how well you execute the first four shots, so we need to be sharp. Our goal is to continue making progress on Thursday.”

FAQs

Q: How many consecutive first-round losses did Alexander Dunn and Adam Hall experience before their recent victory?
A: Before their win at the VICTOR Hong Kong Open 2023, the Scottish duo had suffered three consecutive first-round losses.

Q: Who are their upcoming opponents?
A: Dunn and Hall will be facing Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, who are European Games gold medalists and World Championships runners-up.

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Q: What is their head-to-head record against Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen?
A: Dunn and Hall have faced Astrup and Skaarup Rasmussen three times before and have yet to defeat them.

Summary

Dunn and Hall’s recent victory at the VICTOR Hong Kong Open 2023 ended their streak of first-round defeats. They are now eager to achieve more success in the tournament. The Scottish duo acknowledged the challenging nature of the sport at this level and emphasized their desire to win second rounds. Their recent match showcased their determination, as they fought back from a deficit to secure the victory. Despite facing tough opponents in their upcoming match, they remain confident in their abilities and are determined to perform at their best.