HYLO^® Open ends with winners from four countries

A firecracker of a final to round off the HYLO^® Open 2024. Ben Lane and Sean Vendy of England secure the title in Saarbrücken in an exciting three-set thriller.

In the only final in the Saarlandhalle that went the full three-set distance, the top-seeded English players Ben Lane and Sean Vendy defeated Danes Rasmus Kjær and Frederik Søgaard 18:21, 21:15, 21:18. This is despite the English team suffering a weak start and being seven points down at one stage in the first set.

Lane: ‘We were too passive and were under pressure too often. But you cannot play sport at this level without enjoying stress and the challenge. We felt better after the first set.’ He adds: ‘There was a lot of back and forth and it was very exhausting. The conditions in the hall played to our strengths.’

Lane/Vendy established a better foothold in the game by the second set, impressing time and again with their defensive skills. This is the second title this year for the English pair, after winning the Swiss Open in March. Lane/Vendy will no longer be competing at the final tournaments of the year in South Korea, Japan, China and India – Vendy’s partner is expecting their first child.

Tight mixed final, duel of the brothers in men’s singles

At noon, Danes Jesper Toft and Amalie Magelund secured the mixed doubles title. This pair, who first played together in the spring, celebrated their third international tournament victory in Saarbrücken. The final saw Toft/Magelund defeat the Scots Alexander Dunn and Julie Macpherson 21:19, 21:16.

Magelund said about the win: ‘Nerves played a major role. But we stayed calm at the crucial moments.’ And Toft added: ‘I am not often speechless. We are the champions, we did it. That means a huge amount to us.’

Clear win in the men’s singles

One thing was certain before the men’s singles final: Popov would be the winner. What remained as yet unclear was the victor’s first name – and a duel between brothers Toma Junior and Christo saw the younger sibling triumph. A score of 21:13, 21:10 gave Christo Popov his second title in Germany, following the German Open in March.

The match was over very quickly and Toma Popov departed the court slightly battered. Christo said about the win: ‘I was of course a little luckier than my brother. But it is a family victory. I hope that we will be able to play each other in a final again.’ This was Christo’s first time beating his brother in an international BWF tournament.

Another German double for Blichfeldt

Wins at the German Open and now also at the HYLO^® Open: this held true for Mia Blichfeldt in the women’s singles, as the Dane won her final against Indian player Malvika Bansod 21:10, 21:15. Blichfeldt fell behind early on in the second set, but then made an impressive comeback. Bansod was powerless against the 27 year old’s aggressive attacks.

Blichfeldt said: ‘I am very happy – about how I played all week and about how I fought my way back in the second set.’ And she adds: ‘I am very proud of my two tournament wins this year. I will be celebrating with the Danish mixed doubles team on the way to the airport.’

The women’s doubles final had an elite lineup: Taiwanese top seeds Sung Shuo Yun and Yu Chien Hui faced second-seeded Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemyr. The Ukrainians ejected Linda Efler and Thuc Nguyen from the tournament in the semi-final. After an energy-sapping week where all four players were competing in two disciplines, the final against Sung/Yu was one step too far for the young Ukrainians (16:21, 14:21). Sung: ‘We will celebrate the win with a good meal and then enjoy a long sleep.’

So the bottom line is two wins for Denmark, plus titles for France, Taiwan and England. The HYLO^® Open 2025 will be taking place from 28 October to 2 November 2025 – back at the Saarlandhalle in Saarbrücken.