13 October, 2023
Ben Lane and Sean Vendy exited the Clash of Clans Arctic Open 2023 at the round of 16 stage in Vantaa, Finland.
The pair started with a rousing 21-18 21-17 victory over eighth seeds Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han but came up just short in a tense last 16 tussle on Thursday.
Lane and Vendy claimed the first game 21-12 against Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Sogaard but the Danes hit back to take victory, winning the decider 21-17.
In the mixed doubles, Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith faced a tough round of 32 clash against Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei of Malaysia, and the fifth seeds claimed a 21-14 21-17 win on their way to the semi-finals.
Gregory and Jenny Mairs fell at the same stage, going down 21-9 21-17 to another Malaysian pair, Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing.
Raymond Webster was the final shuttler in action, and he was beaten 21-3 21-2 by Spain’s Luis Enrique Penalver in men’s singles qualification.
There is still plenty of English interest elsewhere this weekend, with several players in contention across the YONEX Dutch Open and Egypt International.
