by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Julia Szymczak finished ahead of England’s Denise Payet, listed at no.285 on the Under 18 Girls’ World Rankings, Denmark’s Sophie Walloe and Romaine Le Scour of France in a closely contested group. Presently, Sophie Walloe is named at no.243; Romane Le Scour has no current global status but in September was listed at no.102.
Impressively, in her opening contest Julia Szymczak accounted for Sophie Walloe (12-10, 11-7, 12-10), before maintaining her good form to overcome England’s Denise Payet (11-9, 13-11, 2-11, 11-9).
Two wins, however on her third visit to the table it was defeat; she was beaten by Romane Le Scour (12-10, 11-4, 14-12), a young lady who was in determined mood following defeats against Denise Payet (11-5, 4-11, 12-10, 11-6) and Sophie Walloe (13-11, 11-6, 4-11, 7-11, 11-8).
Mixed fortunes for Denise Payet and Sophie Walloe; in the concluding contest in the group they clashed; the verdict went in favour of Denise Payet (11-9, 14-16, 11-7, 11-9).
Thus the end result was that Denise Payet and Julia Szymczak each had two wins to their credit; for Romane Le Scour and Sophie Walloe it was one success apiece.
In such instances where two players are level, it is the contest between those two players that decides the final outcome. Hence, it was first place for Julia Szymczak followed by Denise Payet, Sophie Walloe and Romaine Le Scour.
Players finishing in first and second places in each of the initial stage groups advance to the main draw; Julia Szymczak and Denise Payet progressed, Sophie Walloe and Romaine Le Scour bid farewell.
A surprise first place and Julia Szymczak was not alone; five more players secured top spot against the odds.
The Czech Republic’s Gabriela Stepanova, Korea’s Jung Dana and Romania’s Andreea Hudusan duly topped their groups, as did the Slovak Republic’s Nikoleta Puchovanova and Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian.
Upsets but for other than for Romane Le Scour; the leading names all secured pole position. It was top spot for Hong Kong’s Wong Chin Yau alongside the Romanian duo of Andreea Clapa and Tania Plaian. Likewise, Chinese Taipei’s Wu Yi-Hua and Croatia’s Marta Vukelic secured first places, as did Sweden’s Ellen Holmsten and Filippa Bergand.
Play in the Junior Girls’ Singles event concludes on Thursday 3rd November.
2016 Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open: First Stage – Junior Boys’ Singles
2016 Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open: First Stage – Junior Girls’ Singles
2016 Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open: Main Draw – Junior Boys’ Doubles
2016 Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open: Main Draw – Junior Girls’ Doubles
