Pittard safely through at All Englands

ENGLAND'S Sarah Walker couldn't hide her frustration after crashing out of the Yonex All England Championships in Birmingham.

EASY PROGRESS: English champion Jill Pittard needs just one win to reach the first round at the All England Championships (Getty Images)

The Buckinghamshire youngster lost her first round women's singles qualifying match 12-21, 17-21 to Bulgarian Diana Dimova, who now faces new English champion Jill Pittard for a place in Wednesday's first round.

Pittard, who won her first National Badminton singles title last month, eased passed third qualifying seed, Finland's Anu Nieminen, 21-14, 21-14.

Walker was also forced to concede her women's doubles qualifying match this morning after her partner, Helen Davies, pulled out of the tournament.

"I've been playing well but I just couldn't seem to get into the match," she admitted.

"It's the first time I've played in such a big arena and it really makes a big difference to your game."

In the men's doubles qualifying, Dean George and Robert Adcock beat German pair Juergen Koch and Peter Zauner 21-15, 21-18 to progress to the second qualifying round where they'll face Chinese duo Zhendong Guo and Chen Xu.

Elsewhere, Yorkshire's Marcus Ellis and Robin Middleton fought back to defeat Chetan Anand and Diju Valiyaveetil 17-21, 21-17, 21-17.

JO CARTER in Birmingham