Men get ready to flex their muscles on opening day of pool play

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Last year's winners Brouwer/Meeuwsen are in action on Thursday. Photocredit: Joerg Mitter.

With qualification done and dusted it’s time for the big guns in the men’s competition to step up and show the Poreč Major what they’ve got in the main draw on Thursday.

Reigning Poreč Major champs from last year, Brouwer/Meeuwsen of the Netherlands line-up in Pool B alongside fellow Olympic-bound side Austrian Olympic hopes Doppler/Horst, while smart Major Hamburg gold medalists Dalhausser/Lucena also face a team from Austria, qualifiers Winter/Petutschnig.

On Thursday there are 40 mouthwatering matches to get your teeth into as the men go head-to-head in the main draw. So the question is, who do you watch, where and when? Well, let us pick our favorite five for you…

Match: Lucena/Dalhausser v Winter/Petutschnig
Where? Court 3
When? 9:00 CET
Why? The Americans’ last game was their victory at smart Major Hamburg, while the Austrian’s qualified by beating one of their heroes – also an American!

Match: Alison/Bruno v Karaula/Jercic
Where? Court 5
When? 10:00 CET
Why? Reigning World Champs Alison/Bruno from Brazil take on home charges Karaula/Jercic. It’s the favorites against the rank outsiders. What are the chances of a shock?

Match: Bawden/Clancy v Forrer/Vergé-Dépré
Where? Court 5
When? 13:00 CET
Why? Australians Bawden/Clancy have found life difficult so far here, losing twice already. They go up against fellow Olympic qualifiers from Switzerland desperate for a victory.

Match: Holtwick/Semmler v Radanovic/Fabris
Where? Center Court
When? 14:00 CET
Why? A winner takes all game with all eyes on the home nation’s rookies. Radanovic/Fabris could advance to the knockout stages with a win against their more experienced German opponents.

Match: Brouwer/Meeuwsen v Guto/Saymon
Where? Court 3
When? 17:00 CET
Why? Last year’s gold medalists from the Netherlands were runners-up in Hamburg. They take on up-coming Brazilian stars who battled through qualifying.