ANN/THE STAR – Denmark’s Anders Antonsen’s withdrawal from the German Open has given independent men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia an easier path to the quarter-finals.
World number four Zii Jia had been slated to meet world number 18 Antonsen in the second round of the tournament, which got underway in Mulheim yesterday.
The Dane’s decision to pull out has given Zii Jia a boost as he will now likely play Taiwan’s world 49th Lee Chia Hao in the second round instead.
Chia Hao was promoted to the main draw from the qualifiers to replace Antonsen. Other notable players who have also pulled out are fellow Dane Rasmus Gemke (21st) and India’s world 19th K Srikanth.
