Popov C / Popov T J vs Chen B Y / Liu Y

The men's doubles quarterfinal at the Denmark Open on Thursday presents an intriguing matchup between the French brothers, Toma Junior Popov and Christo Popov, and the Chinese pair of Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi. The Popov siblings have shown resilience to reach this stage, but they face a significant step up in class against a formidable Chinese duo known for their disciplined and powerful play. Odds reflect this challenge, with the Popovs listed at 4.1, while Chen and Liu are heavy favorites at 1.17.

This match is a classic test of a developing European partnership against the established, systematic strength often seen from Chinese pairs. The Popovs will need to leverage their aggressive net play and chemistry to disrupt the rhythm of Chen and Liu, who are typically very consistent from the backcourt. For the French pair to overcome the odds, a near-flawless performance will be required against opponents who are heavily backed to advance to the semifinals.