by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
After accounting for Slovenia’s Nusa Bolte in her opening contest (7-11, 11-9, 13-11, 12-10), she overcame Germany’s Luisa Saeger, the no.4 seed, in a closely fought five games duel decided by the very minimal two point margin (8-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9).
Success against Luisa Saeger was followed by victory in opposition to Serbia’s Edina Benko (11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3) to secure first place in the group.
Luisa Saeger duly secured second spot, in her opening contest she had accounted for Edina Benko (11-9, 11-7, 11-9), prior to concluding her initial phase contests with success against Nusa Bolte (8-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6).
Colleagues tested
Problems for Luisa Saeger, there were also difficulties for her colleagues Caroline Hajok, the no.6 seed and for Janina Kammerer, the no.8 seed.
Caroline Hajok was beaten by Montenegro’s Ivona Petric (11-4, 11-9, 10-12, 6-11, 11-7) and had to settle for second place in her group behind her nemesis whilst for Janina Kammerer it was top spot but a close call.
Games ratio
She was beaten by Hungary’s Fanni Harasztovich in a full distance five games duel (11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7) but recovered to beat Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero in four games (11-3, 11-6, 14-16, 11-3).
However, somewhat against predictions, in the concluding contest in the group, Lucia Cordero recorded a five games win in opposition to Fanni Harasztovich. Thus on games ratio, it was first place for Janina Kammerer (5:4) with Fanni Harasztovich in second spot (5:5) and Lucia Cordero third (5:5).
Amy Wang
Similarly there were problems for Amy Wang of the United Sates, the no.7 seed but the eventual outcome was first place in the group. She was beaten by Moldova’s Natalia Brinza (8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8) but that was to be the Moldovan’s only win.
Pertinently, in her opening contest, Amy Wang had overcame Russia’s Daria Shadrina (13-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8), who likewise experienced only one defeat. She lost to Romania’s Andreea Hudusan (6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7; just as with Natalia Brinza it was the only win the Romania secured.
The outcome was that Daria Shadrina and Amy Wang finished with two wins apiece; as Amy Wang beat Daria Shadrina, she secured top spot.
First place
Meanwhile, for the remaining leading names it was top spot without defeat.
Japan’s Kana Takeuchi and Yuko Kato, the respective top two names duly remained unbeaten to secure first places in their groups, as did Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling, the next in line and Russia’s Kristina Kazatseva, the no.5 seed.
Conclusion
Play in the Junior Girls’ Singles event concludes on Thursday 15th September.
