by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Neither player the owner of a current world ranking; in their opening contest of the day, they beat the combination formed by Romania’s Bogdan Iacob and Croatia’s Lovro Zovko, the no.13 seeds.
A surprise, in their next encounter, they caused an even bigger upset. They overcame the Czech Republic ‘A’ Team pairing of Frantisek Onderka and Tomas Martinko, the no.4 seeds.
Man of the moment was very much Felix Wetzel, he proved the backbone of success.
Against the Czech Republic ‘A’ Team, he beat both Frantisek Onerka (11-9, 11-7, 11-8) and Tomas Martinko (10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 12-10) in a three-two success. Two victories from Felix Wetzel, earlier in the opening match of the day, it had been the same. He had accounted for both Bogdan Iacob (11-7, 11-2, 11-6) and Lovro Zovko (11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3) as a three-one win was posted.
Day Three at the 2017 Czech Junior and Cadet Open
Disappointment for the host nation but there was a notable success. Represented by Simon Belik, Filip Vybiral, the Czech Republic ‘B’ Team beat the Belarus duo of Mikhail Tsyhanouski and Heoirhi Kunsats by three matches to one prior to causing a major upset.
Jan Morkrejs replaced Filip Vybiral in the Czech line-up overcoming the Portugal ‘A’ duo of Tiago Li and João Silva, the no.6 seeds, by three matches to nil.
Two surprise first places; for the leading three outfits in the first stage of the Cadet Boys’ Team event, it was a day without defeat.
France ‘A’, the top seeds, with Bilal Hamache and Dorian Zheng on duty, finished in first place in their group as did Poland’s Maciej Kubik and Samuel Kulczycki, the second seeds. Likewise it was first place for the France ‘B’ pairing of Myshaal Sabhi and Jules Cavaille, the third seeds.
Play in the Cadet Boys’ Team event concludes on Saturday 11th February; only the outfits finishing in first place in each group advanced to the main draw.
