by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Meanwhile, for the remaining principal names, the day concluded without defeat but for each one match remains.
Germany’s Caroline Hajok, the no.4 seed alongside Amy Wang of the United States and Janina Kammerer, also from Germany, enjoyed a relatively trouble free day.
Hard fought wins
However for Serbia’s Sabina Surjan and Tijana Jokic, there were difficult times. All remained unbeaten but all three had to stave off major challenges.
Sabina Surjan, the no.7 seed, needed the full five games to beat Slovenia’s Lea Paulin (11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5), as did Klara Cakol, the no.8 seed, when facing Lea Paulin’s colleague, Aleksandra Vovk (13-11, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6). Similarly, Tijana Jokic was extended the full distance by Hungary, Kata Fule (11-7, 10-12, 7-11, 13-11, 11-7).
Unexpected defeats
Difficult times, further down the list there were even more difficult times, in an event that witnessed a total of 14 groups in the initial phase of proceedings, Slovenia’s Tamara Pavcnik and Ana Tofant alongside Croatia’s Andrea Pavlovic all experienced somewhat surprise defeats.
Tamara Pavcnik, the no.11 seed, was beaten by Germany’s Anastasia Bondareva in her opening contest of the day 11-4, 11-8, 2-11, 11-5), before recovering to beat Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero (9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 11-8). Success for Anastasia Bondareva in her opening encounter, it was the same in her second engagement; she beat Vlada Caraulnia in three straight games (11-5, 11-6, 11-9).
Similar situation
Hopes still alive for Tamara Pavcnik with players finishing in first and second places in each group advancing to the main draw; it is the same for Ana Tofant, the no.12 seed and Andrea Pavlovic, the no.14 seed.
After accounting for Italy’s Valentina Roncallo (11-4, 11-7, 11-8), Ana Tofant was beaten by Germany’s Lotta Rose (11-9, 6-11, 11-2, 11-5); whilst Andrea Pavlovic, after overcoming Italy’s Evelyn Vivarelli (11-9, 11-8, 11-6), was suffered defeat at the hands Hungary’s Orsolya Feher (11-9, 10-12, 11-3, 5-11, 11-3).
Lotta Rose, in her one remaining encounter of the day, beat Moldova’s Vitalina Brinza (11-6, 11-6, 11-1) to end the day unbeaten; Orsola Feher prior to defeating Tamara Pavcnik had received a walk-over against Slovenia’s Katia Kranjc.
Notable Casualty
Surprises lower down the order in the first stage of the Junior Girls’ Singles event; in the counterpart Cadet Girls’ Singles competition, there was one upset higher up the list.
Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero, the no.3 seed, was beaten by Moldova’s Natalia Brinza (11-5, 11-7, 11-6), after having accounted for the host nation’s Vita Kobetic in her opening encounter (11-8, 11-5, 11-5).
Otherwise, for the leading names it was success; Amy Wang alongside Prithika Pavade of France and Slovenia’s Katarina Strazar completed the day unbeaten and thus in top places in their respective groups.
Play continues
Play continues in both the Junior Girls’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles events on Saturday 24th September.
