Susan Egelstaff, the Bank of Scotland International and five-time Yonex Scottish National Champion, hopes her experience will pay dividends when she faces Japanese youngster Sayako Sato in the opening round of the women's singles at the Yonex All-England Super Series in Birmingham today (Wednesday 10 March).

 “Sayako has only been on the scene for a year and this is the first time that I’ve played against her,” revealed Egelstaff. “But she’s now rated the Japanese No.1 singles player so I know it is going to be tough.

“But it’s always going to be a hard draw in the first round of a Super Series tournament and I’m just relieved that that I don’t have to face one of the Chinese seeds. I’m really looking forward to my first match.”

The Glasgow 27-year-old is enjoying a great season, having already won the Bank of Scotland International title at the Kelvin Hall last November.

Since then, the 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist has welcomed a fresh approach working with the new Scottish National coach, Yvette Yun Luo.

“Yvette started in January and, so far, it’s been really good,” is Egelstaff’s view of a new regime spearheaded by the former Chinese internationalist. “She hasn’t made any major changes, just some wee things here and there.

“But I’ve not played many tournaments so, at this stage, it’s a case of trying to apply what I’ve learned in matches.”

In the mixed doubles, Glasgow’s Imogen Bankier and Robert Blair are hoping they get the chance to build on last week’s terrific performance in reaching the final of the German Open.

In the final, Blair had to retire due to a back injury. But he hopes to be fit for today’s opening match against England’s Chris Adcock and Gabby White. Two years ago, Bankier and Blair reached the quarter-finals.

Bankier, who spent seven months sidelined by a knee injury last year, and Edinburgh’s Emma Mason are the other Scots in the main draw. They face Thailand’s Savitree Amitapai and Vacharaporn Muntiel in the first round of the women’s doubles.

In the qualifying rounds today, Edinburgh’s Jillie Cooper and England’s Chris Langridge began well, seeing off Mason and her partner Andrew Ellis 10-21 22-20 21-19 to set up a showdown with Japanese duo Hirokatsu Hashimoto and Mizuki Fujii for a place in the main draw. Cooper also plays in the women’s doubles qualifying today with England’s Samantha Ward. They will face Canada’s Michelle Li and Anna Rice at 4pm.

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