Malik Bourakkadi/Kenneth Neumann (TV Refrath/Blau-Weiß Wittorf; world ranking 76), who had secured a place in the main draw via qualifying, lost in the first round to Czech brothers Jiří and Ondřej Král (world ranking 60) 19-21, 13-21. “We wanted to win. We’ve played them twice before and lost twice. So it’s always difficult against them,” summarized Kenneth Neumann. The men’s doubles team was once again impressed by the atmosphere in the Westenergie Sports Hall: “It’s incredibly cool. I played here last year, and it is and remains something special. I don’t think there have ever been as many children here as there were today, and I’m sure some of them were from my old school. It was so loud, I had goosebumps when we walked onto the court,” said Malik Bourakkadi after the match, which was watched enthusiastically from the stands by several school classes. Afterwards, several children asked the 22-year-old and his doubles partner Kenneth Neumann, who is one year younger, not only for autographs, but also gave them pictures they had drawn for their stars.
Photo: © Claudia Pauli