By Neha Aggarwal
Mini Cadet Boys Champion: Mike Hollo
All the participants in the mini cadet boys’ singles competition were required to play the qualification stage. Germany’s Mike Hollo, started his campaign with the qualification stage winning over Loris Stephany (LUX) 3-0, David Bjorkryd (SWE) 3-1 and Xavier Wats (BEL) 3-0. The 3-1 win over David Bjorkryd was the only match where he dropped a game.
Moving to the main draw he beat Belguim’s Alessi Massart 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-3) in their round of 16 match. After this, he ended Russian hopes till the finals. Later in the day, in the quarter finals, he knocked off Russia’s Roman Vinogradov again in three straight games (11-2, 11-7, 11-3). His next prey was Russian Sergey Ryzhov whom he thrashed 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-6).
And finally, the finals which was a bit of a hiccup for Hollo, but he managed to win two games on deuce. He beat Russia’s Vladislav Bannikov (12-10, 12-10, 11-7).
Top seed Leonard Lindkvist was shown the doors in the semi finals by Bannikov, who won in a rather comfortable win (7-11, 8-11, 10-12).
Cadet boys’ Champion: Dorian Zheng
World no.16 in the Under-15 February 2017 world ranking, France’s Dorian Zheng captured the cadet boys’ crown upstaging top seed from Russia, Maksim Grebnev in a thrilling five games final (11-13, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6). Despite trailing 1-2 in the final, Zheng came back to win the next two games in an easy 11-6, 11-6 win.
In the semi finals, he beat Japan’s Jo Yokotani, the second seed of the tournament and ranked no.12 in the Under-15 February 2017 global ranking. Both the competitors were determined to make it to the finals but Zheng came out as the better one winning in a full fie games match (8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5).
On the other side, top seed from Russia, Maksim Grebnev, who is also ranked no.6 in the world in Under-15 February 2017 ranking, did not face much of a test winning all his matches 3-0 until the semi finals. In the semi final stage he face off against Kakeru Sone of Japan, seeded fourth in the tournament. The third game was stretched to 12-14 in the favor of Kareru Sone, but Grebnev did not drift away form his focus and won the match 3-1 (11-5, 11-6, 12-14, 11-4).
