There will be two Alsatians this Friday in the quarter-finals of the Orleans Masters (Super 100). But only one, Arnaud Merklé (Red Star Mulhouse), is licensed in the region, even if the other, Julien Maïo, a pure Strasbourg resident who has been playing in Maromme for years, keeps all his ties there.
The third thief, William Villeger (ASPTT Strasbourg), 42e world champion and seeded No. 4 in doubles with Ezanvillois Fabien Delrue, was stopped Thursday at the end of the day by Malaysians Yee Jun Chang and Roy King Yap, 197is (15-21, 15-21).
A little earlier, Arnaud Merklé in singles and Julien Maïo in doubles with Eloi Adam (Chambly) had passed without incident. When he had to tear himself away in 32is the RSM player, 61e did not procrastinate either in 16is Wednesday, nor in 8is Thursday. For the third time in three confrontations – after the Austrian and Scottish Opens in 2021 – the 2021 French champion bent the Brazilian Ygor Coelho, 48e of which he is the pet peeve (21-16, 21-11).
The Mulhousien will try to get rid of the Indonesian Christian Adinata in the quarters, 189e unceremonious winner of the Indian Kiran George, 66e (21-16, 21-9) and who beat him in their only duel at the 2018 World Juniors (19-21, 12-21).
For his part, Julien Maïo, operated on his right knee a year ago and long unavailable, continues to ramp up. On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the Robertsauvien and Eloi Adam, 72is ended up being right in 16is of the Arun George and Sanyam Shukla Indians, 91e s (21-19, 14-21, 21-17).
They again needed three sets in 8is face to the Danes Emil Lauritzen and Mads Vestergaard, 89is , and even came close to correctional, saving three sets to win the first set, before forcing the decision in the third (25-23, 14-21, 21-8). For them, the semi-final will go through a success against Indians PS Ravikrishna and Sankar Prasad Udayakumar, 105is.
