by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The one member of the quartet to experience problems was Alexandru Manole; after accounting for Congo Brazzaville’s Christ Bienatiki (11-3, 11-4, 11-4), he needed the full five games to halt the progress of Quebec’s Antoine Bernadet (11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-4).

Notably Antoine Bernadet was a player in form; at the quarter-final stage he had accounted for Canadian colleague, Marko Medjugorac (11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-4).

Problems overcome, to a lesser extent it was the same for Joe Seyfried; in the round of the last eight, he lost the opening game to the host nation’s crowd favourite Ali Kanate, a player who has impressed throughout the whole tournament. Joe Seyfried remained calm and focused to win the next three games (7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4) and thus secured a semi-final berth.

One step away from the title deciding contest, the Frenchman accounted for Switzerland’s Gaël Vendé to reserve his place in the final (11-3, 11-6, 11-9). A bronze medal for Gaël Vendé but the podium finish was nearly denied; at the quarter-final stage he had been extended the full five games by Wasiim Gukhool of Mauritius (11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 6-11, 11-4).

Meanwhile, in the Women’s Singles event, as matters progressed towards the final, there were no moments of drama for either Oceane Guisnel nor for Alina Zaharia.

Oceane Guisnel reserved her place in the final courtesy of success against Cameroon’s Annissa Solail Mewouo (11-2, 11-1, 11-2) and Lebanon’s Malek Khoury (11-4, 11-5, 11-3); similarly Alina Zaharia overcame Vietnam’s Pham Thi Thu Hong (13-11, 11-7, 11-7) and Tunisia’s Abir Haj Salah (11-6, 11-5, 11-6).

In the counterpart quarter-final contests, Malek Khoury had beaten Benin’s Awawou Aliou (11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6); Abir Haj Salah had accounted for Luxembourg’s Chiara Camberlynck (5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8).

Notably for Malek Khoury it was her second bronze medal of the tournament; earlier in proceedings, partnering Mohamad Hamie, she had secured the third step of the podium in the Mixed Team event.

The final of both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events will be played on Thursday 27th July.

2017 Francophone Games: Results – Mixed Doubles (Monday 24th July)

2017 Francophone Games: Results – Mixed Team (Monday 24th July)

2017 Francophone Games: Results – Men’s Singles Stage One (Tuesday 25th July)

2017 Francophone Games: Results – Men’s Singles Main Draw (Wednesday 26th July)

2017 Francophone Games: Results – Women’s Singles Stage One (Tuesday 25th July)

2017 Francophone Games: Results – Women’s Singles Main Draw (Wednesday 26th July)