Adcocks out of Olmypic mixed doubles

Needing a victory to make it into the knock-out stages, the couple lost 2-1 (18-21, 27-25, 21-9) to Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Zieba.

The English pair though squandered several match points in the second game to put the Poles to bed, just as they did against the Chinese pair in their first match.

“We’ve really enjoyed playing here but it’s gutting,” said Chris.

“We played well and put ourselves in a great position and another match with match point. We just didn’t take our chances.

“We had the match point to go through to the quarterfinals, just like we did in our first round match and we did not take them so obviously we are devastated. Absolutely devastated.”

Victory on Friday over Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen had set up a winner takes all clash against the Polish pair.

And the Adcocks looked in supreme control as they cruised to the first game and at match point they appeared to have rubber-stamped their path to the quarter-finals.

But in the end the Poles proved too strong and the Adcocks will head home thinking about what might have been.

“It is difficult right now to reflect. It is the Olympic Games,” said Gabby. “It is what everybody wants to do the best in. I am sure we will think of them in the days to come,” she said.

“It has been amazing. It is my first Olympics so to get to experience it with my husband has been amazing. We are disappointed to finish on a loss, but the whole Games has been a very nice experience.”