Early loss for Carder as Gilmour set to join fray

Matthew Carder, the only home player in the main draw of the men’s singles, went out in straight games in the first round at the Scottish Open last night.

In a late evening match at the Emirates Arena, Carder, pictured, the 2016 Scottish National Champion had the backing of the crowd, but he faced a tough opponent and lost out 9-21, 9-21 to Austria’s Luka Wraber.

Wraber, ranked 113 against Carder’s 445 in the world rankings, always held control in the 22-minute encounter and progressed to the last 32 and a meeting today with Germany’s Alexander Roovers.

Raj Ouseph, the two-time Olympian and No 4 seed, and Toby Penty, seeded sixth, are the top English players and both were given byes into the second round.

Kirsty Gilmour, Scotland’s defending champion, makes her entry into the women’s event today in an all-british clash against England’s Georgina Bland.

On paper, it should be a straightforward victory for the world No 27 against a player who is a year older at 26 but a long way behind at 140 in the rankings.

But it won’t be an easy defence of the title for the 2016 Olympian. Gilmour is the third seed behind the talented Chinese teenager, Cai Yanyan, and the Danish star Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt.

“This year’s Scottish Open is definitely one of the strongest we’ve seen in terms of world rankings for the ladies’ singles,” said Gilmour.

“Each round is going to be extremely tough so I’ll have to be prepared from the very start.

“At east I know I can always rely on the Scottish crowd to fill up the seats and give a huge amount of support.”

If she survives today’s opener, Gilmour should face Denmark’s Mette Poulsen in the last 16.

Yanyan could be the Scot’s opponent in the semi-finals.