It was a long way for Francesca Corbett to travel, from California to Birmingham for a possible debut at the YONEX All England 2025 — and she wasn’t even sure if she’d be able to play as she was on the reserves’ list in women’s doubles.

Yet, the gamble worked as she and new partner Jennie Gai were promoted to the main draw with the withdrawal of England’s Chloe Coney/Estelle van Leeuwen. Corbett had a broad smile as she prepared for her first All England – in fact, her first international match since last August – after which she’d had a hip surgery.

The last quarter of 2024 was spent in rehab and starting university.

“In the Spain Masters (March 2024) I slipped and tore the labrom in my hip,” Corbett recalled, after her training session in the Utilita Arena, a day before the 115^th edition of the All England. “I decided to finish the Olympic race and then I got surgery before I started university. I was on crutches for about three weeks and then there was two-three months of strength training. I started running again in December.”

She’d been unsure if she’d be promoted from the reserves’ list, but this was the only break she could take from her university during this period, and so she decided to travel to Birmingham.

“Right now I’m training to get back into it with my new partner. We are in the reserves’ list. Not many pairs will withdraw, but we just wanted to see. I’m still in uni so I can’t take multiple weeks off at a time.”

The decision was taken “just because it has the most points, and the All England is the best week to come… it’s a big risk, but it’s the only week I could take off. I have to look at the (physical) testing schedule and the tournament schedule, but it’s also helpful because a lot of my professors are accommodating. If there’s a tournament they will do what they can to help me, but it’s a good experience I think.”

As it turned out, there were just three withdrawals. The other two were in men’s singles – last year’s runner-up Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and world No.11 Koki Watanabe. Their positions in the draw were filled by Brian Yang and Su Li Yang respectively.

Withdrawals:
Men’s Singles: Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (Indonesia), Koki Watanabe (Japan)
Women’s Doubles: Chloe Coney/Estelle van Leeuwen (England)

Promotions:
Men’s Singles: Brian Yang (Canada), Su Li Yang (Chinese Taipei)
Women’s Doubles: Francesca Corbett/Jennie Gai (USA)

→Order of Play (Day 1)