by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Together they booked their place in the title deciding match in the Women’s Doubles event by overcoming the host nation combination of Martina Kohatsu and Caroline Kumahara (11-6, 11-8, 11-5).

Victory over one Brazilian partnership, now in the final another awaits; they confront Gui Lin and Bruna Takahashi; the semi-final winners in opposition to the Chilean combination comprising Judith Morales and Paulina Vega, a partnership that warmed to the task as the match progressed (11-4, 11-7, 20-18).

Success in the Women’s Doubles semi-finals, soon after it was the same result at the same stage of the Women’s Singles event, Brazilians being the players to experience defeat.

Bernadette Szocs, the top seed, accounted for qualifier Bruna Takahashi (11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-3); at the same time, Audrey Zarif, the no.4 seed, ended the hopes of Gui Lin but in a much closer contest. She trailed by three games to one before eventually securing a full distance success (11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 11-13, 11-7).

A close contest and very similar to previous engagements involving the two players; both, as in São Paulo, had required a deciding game.

At the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open, in the second round of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event, Audrey Zarif had emerged successful (11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6). More recently in the Women’s Singles qualification phase at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Polish Open, the verdict had gone in favour of Gui Lin by the very narrowest of decisions (11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-2, 7-11, 14-12).

The finals schedule is due to start at 10.00am (local time) on Sunday 7th May; the Women’s Doubles title deciding contest is the first match on the agenda.