Sevilla 2001 - Denmark-England in full

An personal account by Leif Andersen

This rather detailed account was written in danish as the plays progressed. It was hard, and the editing and subsequent translation took almost 1 1/2 day (on and off). The the rest of ties and matches will be described in much less detail! England and Denmark has never before met in a Sudirman group, according to IBF data. Usually England plays in Group 2, but the growing strength of the country, where modern Badminton was founded, has earned her the spot in the strongest group.

The play is scheduled to start at 1800, and while you wait, you can relate very well indeed to the stories, that european players tell about hot and humid venues in the far east. This is very hot and very humid. And you are sitting in almost dark, because the windows of the arean has been covered by heavy curtains. The courts are lit by a few spots - way to few to enable photography without flash. The press photographers know not to use flash - but the audience migt not be as considered. Tonight, though, most of the audience are players from other groups. If you play on at team not playing in group 1 you might newer win Sudirman prizes. But you get to watch the best players in a world for free - together with at learned crowd I guess...

All 9 courts are in use. On court no. 4 China plays Sweden, and on court no 5 it is England vs. Denmark. Here Nathan Robertson / Donna Kellogg plays the mixed double against Jens Eriksen/Mette Schjoldager. Down on court no. 8 it is Scotland vs. Netherland.

While danes and englishmen are still warming up on court no. 5, you can see that the chinese couple, Zhang Jun and Gao Ling has gained the first 2 points against Frederik Bergstrom and Jenny Karlsson, Sweden.

Something seems to be wrong with the electronic scorebord for court no. 5. The head judge is called in, and after looking at the controlbox he confers with the results table. Then the two guys, Natahan and Jens, starts discussing the quality of the shuttles. The head judge urges them to get going, at the match starts with af delay of 10 minutes - While chinese leads sweeden 8-5 in first match.

Nathan and Donna wins the first point of the game on an out over the back line. Thats all for the english at the moment. Jens and Mette scores 2, at the game is even again.

Both sides make mistakes, and that enables Nathan and Donna to again the lead at 4-5. The lead continues until even at 7-7, after a short smash from Mette. The danes seems to have the upper hand for a few volleys, but just as that was written, a change occured. Now the danes can not exploit the their serves, and the English gains another point to 9-13 point. The sympathy is squarly with the englishmen, just as the swedes on court no. 4 also gets the most applause, when they do something vell. Mette and Jens do get the first gamepoint - but looses it. The match is decided 17-16 to the english, while the result system gives all kind of funny numbers.

The danes leads 2-0 when the display is stable again. They very quickly gains both 5-1 and 6-1, when at frustrated Nathan wants a word with the umpire. Shortly after - at 7-1 - it is Jens who stops the game. A door is open, sending af strong sunlight into the darkened hall. The door is still open when play is resumed, and having "the sun on their back" seems to benefit the english. They add 3 points to 7-4, before giving up the serve. The danes are stronger again, and get to 11-5. Another 2 points for Donna and Nathan. Long volleys to 13-7 on 2. serv for the danes. Mette looses the serv on a total failed return - out over her own side line. Both teams really go at it now, battling for each point. Serve changes forth and back. A long volley gives the danes gamepoint at 14-7 - but subsequently Jens returns a smash almost to next door court no. 4, at full 90 degree off course. Jens and Mette wins the game on next change of serve - 15-7. We are going to a 3. game.

During the break we can watch George Remarcdi loose his first game to Ji Xinpeng 6-15

The begining of 3. game starts with acrobatics. First by both sides in incredable saves and returns - then a frustrated Donna "looses" her racket up in the air. It is only a few feet clear of the ceiling, rotating towards the floor - where it is elegantly caught by Nathan, just before it hits. Unfortunately this will not get you any points. Jens and Mette takes the lead 3-2, but then comes a longer period of no score for both parties. Now Nathan shows sign of frustration. And the scoreboard shows wrong numbers. It should read 3-3, and somewhat later 3-4, when the english scores a single point on a second serve. Mette serves second, and manage to gain to 7-4. Another point for each side, and time for change of courts, while Jens holds 1. serve. A very long volley, seeing Jens all over the court, and Mette standing almost motionless in the middle. When she finally smashes - it is into the net.

On court no. 4 George Rimarcdi wins 2. game 15-8.

Long tough volleys continues to 8-6. Donna gets 8-7 by outplaying Jens close to the net. Next - confusion between Donna and Nathan gives two points in at row for the danes, 10-7. At change of serve, and the danes continues scoring to 13-7. The scoring ends, when Nathan places his return precisely between Jens feet. But the english failes to get points during their turn, and the danes gets first game and match point. They loose it, because Jens misjudge a return - It was in! After a break Donna gets a yellow card warning, probably because she stepped on at shuttle deliberately. Donna and Nathan works fast now, and they gain 14-10, before the the danes get the serve again, and Jens decides the match with af flat return close inside the corner to the right of Nathan.

This first match took 1 hour 15. It could be a long night!

(Todays previous matches took up to about 35 minutes - if that long at all.)

Denmark - England 1-0

On court no. 4 George Rimarcdi trails 1-8 in the 3. game.

Next match on court no. 5 is Mark Constable, England vs. Peter Gade, Denmark Peter is very popular in the hall - particular when his name is announced a noisy band of drums erupts near court no. 9 (It might be a coinsidence, though - usually the drums are syncronized with happenings on either court 8 og 9.)

The two men warms up by playing over the net, while they wait for the umpire to take his chair.

Peter starts to serve and get the first point of the game. Another one shortly after, 2-0. Then comes a long volley with high balls. Peter wins that one too. Peter get Mark to run around for 4-0. Peter is in very good shape. After 5-0 he looses the serv - but Mark can not hold on to it. Peter seems determined to show, who is in control. He hardly makes mistakes - as Mark does. Mark gets another serve at 8-0 - but still nill. 11-0: A long volley and for a change it is Peter who overshoots the lines. No points for Mark this time, but soon after he gets the serve again, and when Peter repeats the overshoot, Mark gets his først point, 11-1. Mark is allowed another point, but Peter finishes the game 15-2.

In the mean time, George Remarcdi lost the 3. game, 2-15.

While we were looking at court no. 4, Peter quickly got started on game 2. He gets to 5-0, when Mark serves and get his first. His next serve is lost, when the shuttle on a return danses on top of the net - and falls to Peters advantage. After 6-1 Mark aggressively plays directly at Peter and with some succes. He regains the serve. He also make Peter make a mistake - 5-2, but losses the next attempt i the net. Playing high and slow lands Peter on 8-2, Mark gets nil this time - but on the next change hes 8-3. Serv changes a few times. On at serve by Mark, his return is called out. He disagrees, and confers with the umpire, but the call stands and the score is 11-3.

Peter gets game and match point and wins it, when Mark again hits the net squarely with his return. 15-3

Denmark - England 2-0

Next match is Camilla Martin, Denmark, and Tracy Hallam, England. It could be interesting, because Tracy is actually the best in England. Currently Julia Mann is higher on IBFs lists - but she has played more international tournaments, while Tracy has won the english Grand Slam's 3 out of 4 times this season.

Camilla wins the draw, and starts to serve.

The play on court no. 4 has stopped, because some kind of spot from the ceiling is hitting the court head on.

Tracy wins the first point, but Camilla quickly regains and gets her first. A smash directly on Camilla, and Tracy serves again. No points, and the serv changes a few times. Tracy breaks the standoff to 1-2 - but only that extra point. Camilla starts to score, and seem unstopable. Short volleys, an at 6-2 Tracy finally wins the serve. It changes agian, short volleys, with Camilla one more point up: 7-3. Then there is a long rally, which Tracy looses when she returns out over the back line. Camilla 8-3, 9-3 - Twice in a row Tracy's short return fails to clear the net. Then Camilla gets game point and wins 11-3

The spot on court 4 is still on. Nobody seems to be able to find the switch. Play has resumed anyhow.

Camilla get the first point in 2. game - and the second... 4-0 is won by at shot to Traceys backline she thinks is out - but it is not. 7-0: A long rally on Camilla's serve, but she is outplayed by Tracey in the end. On the next serve, Tracey gets her first point of the this game, 7-1. Camilla gets the initative again, and 8-1, but looses serve. Tracey wins a point, when Camilla returns straight into the net. But only one, because Traceys next return is out of Camilla's reach - and out over the side line. Camilla gets first game and match point at 10-2. Tracey survives, when Camilla's return failes to clear then net. The 2. try from Camilla is also unsuccessfull. On the 3. game and match point Traceys return is a little to long for the court, and Denmark leads England 3-0

Now the strange spot in the ceiling is turned against som spectators just below the media stands. During the last games, doors on the other side are opened, letting in powerfull sunlight, and disturbing the players facing the doors.

4. match is mens doubles, Jim Laugesen/Michael Søgaard vs. Anthony Clark and Ian Sullivan, England.

Now I am in the spotlight. Quite annoying!

Ian and Anthony starts to serve, and gets the first point on the 2. serve. Next, Jim and Michael gets their first. The plays are very fast, and the english wins most and open op a 5-2 lead. Michael is disatisfied with something, and Jim joins in. Game continues and the english increase the lead to 8-4 and 9-4. The danes are in trouble here. First their rackets clash during play and next they hit a return right into court no. 4 - luckily without disturbing that match. Anthony and Ian has 11-5. The danes starts scoring, wins 11-8 on a misjudgement from Anthony. He belives the danes made at serve fault. The 2. serve is a very long rally, with high smash returns from the danes - then the position is reversed. The rally ends, when Ian and Anthony both jump together to the same spot in their right corner. They do not clash - but the shuttle lands between them.

The danes even to 11-11 on short rallies, before loosing the serve on an out. Ian and Anthony aims for Michael on the back line. He steps a side and the shuttle is out. The danes get 11-13 before loosing on another out. 12-13: 2. serve is a long rally, which they loose on a weak return into the net. Serve changes a few times, but the danes get first game point, 14-12. on a 2. serve. The english tries to hit court no. 4 again, and the danes win first game.

The spot in the ceiling is sun ligth! - It is a hole in a curtain! No wonder they could not finde the switch!

In the 2. game Ian and Anthony gets the first point too, but on their first serve. The reached 3-1 somehow, while some collegue wanted to know the result of the first game. Serve changes a few times with 4-1. The rally leading to 4-2 is not so long, but very varied plays, where the danes slowly outplays the english, so their final return is far out. 4-3, and the english regains the serve and 5-3. Ian put his hand on his head in despair, when the returns into the net, and the serve is lost. 5-4 - 5-6 the scoreboard says - but before the play actually startet! They win the point and are now up to date with the scoreboard. The english gets to points on their turn, but the danes move ahead on their 2. serve: 7-11. The last two rallys are long and ends with the english return into the net. After 7-12 it is Jim, who hits then net, trying for at decisive running smash.

Only one more point for the english, and then the danes get 14-8 and wins 15-8. The last plays var fast and short.

Next match is Ella Miles and Sara Sankey, England, against Helene Kirkegaard og Rikke Olsen, Denmark. World rank number 13. against nr. 2!

When we reenter the arena, Helle and Rikke is ahead 3-1, but looses to rallys, and Sara and Ella gets point. Rikke has trouble with her hair pin, and the english evens to 3-3. On the 1. serve the danes win a very long rally for one point. The english get 4 and 5 on their next 2. serve. The danes goes on a wining streak - leading 11-5, when Helene fails an easy return into the net.

11-7: Now the english goes at it. Helene hits the net again. 13-9. Sara and Ella gets no point, but on the danes 2. serve they get 14-9 and wins 15-9.

2. game: Neither side gains from their first serves. Helene and Rikke opens on their next turn a 3-0 lead, before Ella and Sara gets their chance. But nothing goes their way now, and Sara is very frustrated, when the danes reach 5-0 and later 8-0, then on to 10-0 on the first serve. The english makes a lot of mistakes - 12-0: Some resistance from the english, and Rikke is caught of guard after a long rally. But Sara and Ella looses both their serves. Helelen and Rikke can make mistakes too, and the next time the english gets their first point of the game, 12-1. First Rikke returns into net - then in next rally she is too short. The english scores to 12-3 - the last point won, when Helene can not lift the shuttle enought the clear the net - actually it barely hits the lower part of it. 12-5 - Helene fails to gain height on a return close to the net again - but on 2. serve the danes get 13-5. A very long rally, and Helene and Rikke gets game and match point. The last, short rally is decided, when Sara also fails to lift a low shuttle over the net.

Write to the author
Leif E. Andersen. 
Executive Editor, DilleSport

Production: 
BLA*nets DilleSport