Two gutsy games booked Chloe Birch & Lauren Smith into the women’s doubles final at the SaarLorLux Open.
The English duo saw off the challenge of home players Linda Efler & Isabel Herttrich 24-22 21-19 to go one better than last year’s run to the semi-final in Germany.
But they did not have it all their own way, having to claw back into both games late on to seal a showdown with China’s third seeds Liu Xuan Xuan & Xia Yu Ting.
The lead changed hands multiple times in the first game before Efler & Herttrich opened up a 19-16 lead, only for the English pair to go on a run of four straight points.
It took Birch & Smith three game points to clinch it – having also had to save one.
They found themselves behind throughout game two, including an early 7-1 disadvantage, and would not take the lead until again fighting back from 19-16 behind, reeling off five straight points to make it through.
“Into The Final!” Smith posted on Instagram. “Good bit of character coming back from a deficit in both sets to win today! One more to go.”
Birch & Smith are second on the bill for Sunday’s finals day as they chase a fourth title of 2019 and second at BWF World Tour Super 100 level.
In other English action on semi-finals day, Ben Lane & Sean Vendy were knocked out by Danish duo Mathias Bay-Smidt & Lasse Molhede 21-18 22-20.
After Bay-Smidt & Molhede saw out the first game well, Lane & Vendy passed up a game point in the second as the seventh seeds pushed through to a final meeting with Chinese up and comers Di Zi Jian & Wang Chang, responsible for knocking out Marcus Ellis & Chris Langridge the previous day.
In the men’s singles Toby Penty had a tough time against Weng Hong Yang, whose eagerness to pounce at the net saw him win 21-12 21-11 for a final place against Lakshya Sen of India, who bested compatriot Kiran George in three games.
The women’s singles final in Saarbrucken will pit Li Yun of China against Dane Line Christophersen, while Ren Xiang Yu & Zhou Chao Min compete with compatriots Guo Xin Wa & Zhang Shu Xian in the mixed doubles, as a strong Chinese team attendance chase a sweep of the titles.
PICTURE: Badminton Photo
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