The third day of the HYLO Open 2023 delivered exciting clashes, marked by some great upsets in the fight for spots in the quarterfinals. Among the contenders that clinched powerful wins was Jan Louda.
This period of intense competition has taken a toll on some, challenging them both physically and mentally. Still, in the quest for tickets to the quarterfinals, players unleashed their full potential.
One of the upsets of the day featured Jan Louda, who confronted the fourth-seeded Ng Tze Yong, currently ranked 17th in the world. “It’s not an easy opponent,” said the Czech player about Ng.
October has been a demanding month, especially for Ng, who started the month with the Asian Games, continuing with a runner-up finish at the Arctic Open, followed by the Denmark Open and a grand semifinal appearance at the French Open. Louda recognised the challenges at hand, “I knew that I would have my chance. It’s his fourth tournament in a row so it’s physically tough. I just wanted to push and do my best.”
Louda demonstrated a stellar performance. The Czech player, who recently triumphed on home soil at the Czech Open, brilliantly executed his plan that left Ng with no room to counter. “I think it was about my attack and the net. The net was the key.”
Despite many players opting to take a well-deserved break as the European leg of the World Tour nears its end, the tournament's level remained exceptionally high. ““The level is really high. I’m the underdog against these players. I’m not stressed about the way that I have to win,” acknowledged Louda.
Louda's next challenge awaits in the form of Toma Junior Popov, seeded fifth in the tournament. The French player and Louda have never previously crossed paths in the tour. “Let’s see if I can take the semifinals. I think it would be the best result in my career. I will do my best,” concluded the Czech player.
Find all the results from the Round of 16 at the HYLO Open 2023 here.
The quarterfinals will be starting tomorrow at 12pm (CET), you can watch the matches on BWF TV.