Jordan Hart continued to catch the eye in Europe after her recent move to live in Poland so she could work closely with her coach Steve Butler; competing in the Denmark Open and showing her skills in a comfortable first-round victory over Miranda Wilson by 21-16, 21-13.
 
A measure of the high level at which Jordan, who hails from Pembroke Dock, is now playing can be gauged from the fact that her opponent made her debut in February for the German national team which played in the Women’s European Championships in France.
 

Started well and resisted a firm fight-back

 
The pair had never met before and Jordan started really well in the first set but Wilson fought back at the interval they were locked at 12-12 but Hart showed her resilience and fitness levels by easing through to win the set by five points.
 
“I felt a little rusty after being out of competitive play because of the pandemic,” she admitted, “but I knew I was putting myself under pressure and so settled down to play my own game – and it worked.”
 
The second set saw Jordan use the experience previously gained on the BEC Circuit and BWF World Tour to maintain a firm control on the patterns of play – and she told us,
“I was pleased with the outcome after such an enforced absence.”
 

Real challenge to be faced today in the second round

 
But Jordan faces an even greater challenge today (Thursday) because she is due to face Nozomi Okuhara, the top Japanese player who won the World Badminton Women’s Singles in 2017 and is known for her high skill levels and competitive approach.
 
“To be honest it is crazy to be competing here in this Super 750 tournament and even crazier to be playing against a world champion but it is very much part of my learning curve and I am aiming to learn from the experience and to enjoy it.
 
“I aim to perform at my highest level and look on it as another step on my badminton ladder,” she told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk.