The Swedes won the round of 16 in Adelaide over the Poles Michal Bryl and Bartosz Losiak 2–0 in sets (21–18, 21–18).
Poland is an incredibly good team and we have played a lot of matches against them that have almost always been very even and went to three sets. So it was nice that we were able to win and do it two in a row, says David Åhman.
It was really nice that we were able to maintain a stable attacking game and not make too many mistakes. And we were able to stop them a few times and get a lead that we were able to hold all the way.
Åhman has been suffering from a knee injury and the Swedish pair came to the World Cup without having played matches in a couple of months. The fifth-ranked Swedish pair also did not have a great group stage and only made it to the playoffs as third in the group.
"Because we have played so little, our game feels a bit up and down. But when we play well, we play very well. It's important to find that level, then we can win many matches," says Åhman, who played with a large knee pad.
I have to push myself to get past the knee problems and be able to play to the fullest, push myself to not become insecure. But it still feels pretty good.
The Swedes started the match the best and had a four-point lead for a long time, which the Poles caught up to 10–10. The Swedes then pulled away and won the first set 21–18.
In the second set, the match pattern was repeated – Åhman/Hellvig pulled away but Bryl/Losiak came back and had 18–18. But there were no more Polish points, the Swedes took three in a row to win the match.
In Thursday's round of 16, Åhman and Hellvig will face Frenchmen Rémi Bassereau and Calvin Ayer. The Swedes have won their two meetings with the French this year.
