Denmark’s young crop of singles players ensured a quarter-final place by beating Germany 5-0 in the Li-Ning BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2014 today.

The Danes won their second tie in Group Z and are assured of making the last-eight. Group-mates Japan also triumphed, 4-1 over Malaysia, while in the men’s Group B, Japan and Denmark swept aside Hong Kong China and England with identical 5-0 margins.

By the time Sandra-Maria Jensen (right) took the court against Germany’s Anika Dorr, Denmark had clinched the tie. But Jensen had a point to prove as she had faltered in yesterday’s match against Malaysia.

The 20-year-old schoolgirl from Copenhagen recovered from a game down to beat Dorr 18-21 21-11 21-16.

“I was playing very well at the start of the set, but it was very difficult to keep the shuttle where I wanted because the conditions were difficult. The win does make up for yesterday’s loss. I was very upset yesterday. I had hoped to win and the third set was very close. But it’s okay… I’m still learning.”

Line Kjaersfeldt overcame a stiff challenge from Karin Schnaase 23-21 21-18 in the opening singles to give Denmark the lead. It soon became 2-0 when Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter-Juhl won the match without breaking a sweat as opponents Johanna Goliszewski/Isabel Herttrich retired early into the first game.

Another young Denmark recruit, Anna Thea Madsen, provided further evidence of her status as a talent to watch out for, keeping her composure at the end of the third game to win 21-14 12-21 21-17.

Line Damkjaer Kruse/Marie Roepke made it 4-0 holding off a strong first game challenge from Birgit Michels/Carla Nelte, 21-19 21-11.

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Japan’s men were given something to think about only in the opening and closing matches of their Group B tie against Hong Kong China. Hu Yun and Ng Ka Long took a game off Kenichi Tago and Sho Sasaki respectively, but both were stopped 21-16 in the third. Hiroyuki Endo (left) and Kenichi Hayakawa held off a close challenge from Tang Chun Man/Lee Chun Hei, 21-18 21-19 before Kento Momota put the tie beyond Hong Kong China with a 21-9 21-14 rout of Wei Nan.

* Denmark were just as dominant over England in the same group, winning the tie without dropping a game. In the first singles, Jan O Jorgensen (below) nearly  blew his 18-12 lead in the first game as Ouseph pocketed seven points in a row to go up 19-18, but the Dane stopped him there and closed out the match in straight games, 21-19 21-17.

* Japan suffered an unexpected reversal in their opener when Sayaka Takahashi was downed 22-20 21-19 by Tee Jing Yi (featured image), but that’s about as far as Malaysia got. The rest of the Japanese squad ensured there were no more surprises, with Akane Yamaguchi applying the finishing touches to the 4-1 score beating Lim Chew Sien 21-19 21-14.

For today’s results, click here.