by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Currently listed at no.122 on the Women’s World Rankings, the win may well prove a watershed moment in the teenager’s career and may provide the essential self-belief needed to climb to greater heights.
Success for Tamolwan Khetkhuan, there was also success for colleague Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.8 seed; she beat Russian qualifier Elena Troshneva as expected (11-9, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3).
Alas for Thailand there was also defeat on what proved a good afternoon for Germany; Nanthana Komwong, the 10 seed, was beaten by Nina Mittelham, the no.23 seed (11-9, 13-15, 13-11, 11-4, 11-4); whilst at the same time, Nina Mittelham’s German National Team colleague, Chantal Mantz, also caused an upset. The no.29 seed, she accounted for Romania’s Adina Diaconu, the no.13 seed (11-8, 11-8, 15-13, 11-4).
Three upsets in the second round of the Women’s Singles event and there were two more. Hungary’s Mercedes Nagyvaradi, a qualifier, beat colleague Dora Madarasz, the no.15 seed (13-15, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8); Norway’s Ma Wenting, the no.27 seed, overcame Russia’s Maria Dolgikh, the no.9 seed (13-11, 13-11, 12-10, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9).
“It was a very difficult match for me because we know each other very well. I know very well her style of play. Personally for me, just entering in a main draw is good result for me, this victory is much more. Generally, I am already satisfied with my play here in Zagreb.” Mercedes Nagyvaradi
Meanwhile, Korea’s Park Joohyun, who in the opening round had beaten Japan’s Hitomi Sato, the top seed (11-9, 11-1, 11-7, 11-6), continued her winning ways; she overcame colleague Lee Yujin (11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-9) to reserve her place in round three.
A place in the third round for Park Joohyun; other than for Elizabeta Samara, for the other leading names, who had progressed to round two, it was success.
In addition to Suthasina Sawettabut, Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto, the no.2 seed, beat Luxembourg’s Sarah de Nutte, the no.29 seed (11-7, 11-4, 11-1, 11-6), Sweden’s Li Fen, the no.4 seed, overcame Ukraine’s Ganna Gaponova, the no.17 seed (11-9, 11-6, 12-10, 11-13, 7-11, 11-5).
Likewise, Austria’s Sofia Polcanova, the no.6 seed, defeated Hungary’s Szandra Pergel, the no.19 seed and Saki Shibata, like Honoka Hashimoto from Japan, ended the journey of Korea’s Shin Yubin (11-2, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7).
The third round and quarter-final matches in the Women’s Singles event will be played on Friday 5th May.
