Gilmour faces a trio of threats to hopes of defending Scottish Open
Home hope Kirsty Gilmour faces a tough task to retain her Scottish Open singles title when this year’s event gets underway at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena today.
Her opposition includes China’s 18-year-old sensation Cai Yanyan – a world top 20 player who has already won two international events in 2018.
Her compatriot Chen Xiaoxin has consistently been competing at the business end of tournaments this term and 2015 winner Line Kjaersfeldt of Denmark is also in the field.
A world-class field of more than 300 players from around the world have assembled for the event, which runs until Sunday.
Gilmour, who won her first Scottish Open title last year, said: “The two Chinese players that have entered – and indeed Line [Kjaersfeldt] – have been having a really strong past couple of months, so it’s going to be tough.
“It’s surprising to see the Chinese pair in Glasgow but that speaks to the quality of the Scottish Open and what a good event we put on that it attracts such high-quality players.”
In the men’s singles, second seeded Frenchman Brice Leverdez will start as favourite after top seed Rasmus Gemke withdrew due to illness while several young Scots are hoping to battle through qualifying to join Matthew Carder in the main draw.
The women’s doubles could be the most competitive event of all as Dutch reigning champions Selena Piek and Cheryl Seinen look to defend their title against top 10-ranked Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva of Bulgaria and France’s European silver medallists Emilie Lefel and Anne Tran
Commonwealth Gold and Olympic bronze medallists Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge of England will enter the men’s doubles as top seeds providing a tough first-round test for Scottish pair, Ciar Pringle and Jack Macgregor.
If they can come through an opening tie against a pair from qualifying, Scotland’s mixed doubles hopes Eleanor O’donnell and Alex Dunn could face a tough test against the reigning champions Piek and Jacco Arends of the Netherlands.