by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Certainly it was a much more comprehensive victory than one in particular that sticks out in my mind; at the Liebherr 2010 World Team Championships in Moscow, Alberto Miño came perilously close to defeat.
“Yes, I was down 6-10 and won 12-10! Today I wasn’t that confident, short serve and spin the first ball; especially short serve to the forehand. He’s not that strong in the passive game; gradually I was able to find a rhythm to my play. I know him so well; I was clear what I had to do.” Alberto Miño.
Success for Albert Miño; in the same group, there was also success for Chile’s Gustavo Gomez. He accounted for Canada’s Edward Ly (13-11, 11-9, 14-12).
Outcomes as anticipated; it was the same in the remaining three groups.
Gustavo Tsuboi, the top seed, beat Mexico’s Ricardo Villa (11-1, 11-5, 11-6); Kanak Jha of the United States overcame Puerto Rico’s Hector Berrios (11-2, 11-3, 11-7).
Likewise there was success in straight games for Mexico’s Marcos Madrid, the no.2 seed; he beat Adar Alguetti of the United States (11-7, 11-5, 11-7). Also, in the same group Chile’s Felipe Olivares eventually prevailed but it was a hard fought victory; he needed four games to overcome Guatemala’s spirited Kevin Montufar (11-5, 12-10, 8-11, 13-11).
“I was nervous, I’ve not played a great deal internationally in recent months; I played in the World Championships but I played below my level. I have had a sciatic nerve problem; in Düsseldorf I was not fully fit. Today I was fine; it was the mental factor that was the problem. If I do the exercises that the doctor recommends then I am fine. After, I won the first two games, Kevin just played freely and he played well.” Felipe Olivares
Success as predicted, it was the very same in the group involving Brazil’s Eric Jouti, Argentina’s Gaston Alto, Canada’s Bryan Ho and Costa Rica’s Jeison Martinez. In an imposing manner, Eric Jouti, the no.3 seed, beat Bryan Ho (11-9, 11-7, 11-1), Gaston Alto accounted for Jeison Martinez (11-7, 11-4, 11-5).
Photos: Carlos Borban
