by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

However, the United States did take a share of the top honours; the duo experiened defeat at the hands Victor Liu who partnered Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin (11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8).

Road to gold

Earlier, in the latter stages Sharon Alguetti, the no.4 seed, had beaten Feng Yi-Hsin, the no.2 seed, in the penultimate round (11-9, 11-9, 11-9); in the counterpart semi-final, Vitor Liu had ousted Hungary’s Patrik Juhasz (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6).

Notably, Patrik Juhasz was very much a player in form; one round earlier he had overcome Japan’s Takeru Kashiwa, the top seed (11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9). Equally, Victor Liu had impressed in the round of the last eight; he had ended the hopes of Russia’s Maksim Grebnev, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-7, 11-4).

“Victor Liu and me, we know each other so well. We have played so many times in USA, so I had just focused on my game. Yes, I’m tired right now because I played so many matches, but you can’t be tired in finals. It was last match of the tournament, so I had to do my best.“ Sharon Alguetti

Bronze medal

Meanwhile, in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, the United States was prominent by arguably not as prominent as they may have hoped.

Amy Wang, the top seed, finished in the bronze medal position, being beaten at the semi-final stage by Italy’s Jamila Laurenti (11-9, 4-11, 4-11, 13-11, 11-7). Alas for the Italian it was not to be the top prize; in the title deciding contest she experiened defeat at the hands of Moldova’s Natalia Brinza (11-9, 4-11, 4-11, 13-11, 11-7).

Impressive performances

Earlier in the round of the last eight, Natalia Brinza had accounted for Ionna Gerasimatou of Greece, the no.2 seed (11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7) before reserving her place in the final courtesy of success against Sweden’s Jennie Edvinsson (11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7) also a player in form.

Impressively in the second round she had overcome Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero, the no.3 seed (11-6, 3-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-5), prior to recording a quarter-final win over colleague, Rebecca Muskantor (14-12, 11-7, 12-10).

Silver

Gold for Natalia Brinza in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, in the Cadet Girls’ Doubles competition it was silver; partnering Vitalina Brinza theduo experienced defeat at the hands of Slovenia’s Laura Opeka and Katarina Strazar.

Eyes turn to Slovenia

Play in Varazdin concluded, eyes now turn to Otocec; the 2016 Slovenian Junior and Cadet Open ommences on Wednesday 21st September.

Natalia Brizna, the Cadet Girls’ Singles winner (Photo: Mario Samec)