by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Occupying the no.2 seeded place, the17 year old accounted for Amy Wang of the United States, the no.5 seed, at the final hurdle (13-15, 11-7, 12-10, 11-6, 11-8), having at the quarter-final stage beaten Serbia’s Sabina Surjan, the no.7 seed (3-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7) and in the penultimate round Italy’s Jamila Laurenti (9-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-9).
Players of the day
A semi-final exit for Jamila Laurenti but alongside Serbia’s Dragana Vignjevic and Croatia’s Andrea Pavlovich, she was very much the revelation of the day.
Eventually both Dragana Vignjevic and Andrea Pavlovich, departed proceeding at the hands of Amy Wang; the former in the quarter-finals (10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8), the latter in the penultimate round (12-10, 8-11, 11-4, 13-11, 10-12, 11-7).
Caused surprises
However, earlier all three had caused upsets.
In round two, Dragana Vignjevic had caused the biggest upset of the day by beating Japan’s Kana Takeuchi, the top seed (11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8).
Likewise in the same round Andrea Pavlovic had accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling, the no.3 seed and the winner one week earlier in Croatia (11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6), prior to overcoming Slovenia’s Alexandra Vovk (11-6, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7).
Meanwhile, one round later, Jamila Laurenti had ended the hopes of Germany’s Caroline Hajok, the no.4 seed (11-5, 2-11, 11-8, 5-11, 12-10, 11-9).
Prominent once again
Prominent in the Junior Girls’ Singles event, Jamila Laurenti was also prominent in the Cadet Girls’ Singles competition, as was Amy Wang.
Only 13 years old, Amy Wang secured the top prize very much at the expense of France; at the semi-final stage she beat Cloe Chomis (11-2, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6), before in the title deciding contest, overcoming Celia Silva (11-13, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5).
Notably, in the counterpart semi-final, Celia Silva had accounted for Jamila Laurenti (11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5).
Title for Chinese Taipei
Titles for Japan and the United States on the concluding day of play in Otocec; there was also gold for Chinese Taipei.
Su Pei-Ling and Wen Ruei-Ling won the Junior Girls’ Doubles event; at the final hurdle they beat the host nation’s Ana Tofant and Aleksandra Vovk (11-8, 11-13, 11-6, 13-11).
Eyes on Vrnjacka Banja
Play concluded in Otocec, eyes now focus on Vrnjacka Banja; the 2016 Serbian Junior and Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 5th October.