by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Julian Muriel was the player to cause the biggest upset in the opening phase of proceedings; in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event, in his initial contest he beat Argentina’s Luciano Alto, the top seed, in a hard fought full distance five games duel (11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5).
An impressive performance, another followed; he overcame Guatemala’s Abisai Ramirez in four games to secure first place in the group (11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 11-4); earlier Luciano Alto had also beaten Abisai Ramirez (11-5, 15-13, 11-8) and thus reserved second place.
Hard earned; arguably the first place in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event for Marbella Aceves was even harder earned. In her opening contest, she was beaten by El Salvador’s Monica Mendoza, the no.5 seed, in four games (11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8); in the very next match Monica Mendoza experienced a straight games defeat at the hands of Chile’s Claudia Infante (12-10, 11-9, 11-6).
The result meant that the door was opened for Marbella Aceves; there was an opportunity and the opportunity was seized. Win in three straight games and top place in the group was assured. She did just that (12-10, 11-9, 11-6); it was mission accomplished. On games ratio it was first place for Marbella Aceves (4:3) ahead of Claudia Infante (3:3) and Monica Mendoza (3:4).
Thus there was no place in the Girls’ Singles main draw for Monica Mendoza.
Meanwhile, for the other leading names it was pole position. Brazil’s Livia Lima and Beatriz Kimono both topped their groups, as did Chile’s Valentina Rios, Ecuador’s Mylena Plaza and Peru’s Alessandra Cisneros.
Likewise, in the Boys’ Singles competition, with the exception of Luciano Alto, the leading names secured first places in their respective groups. It was first place for Argentina’s Matias Guadalupe and Matias Velarde; likewise Panama’s Jacobo Vahnish and Mexico’s Dario Arce enjoyed a trouble free day.
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Prospectus (Monday 7th August
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Entries (Monday 7th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Schedule of Play (Monday 7th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Team Seeding (Monday 7th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: First Stage – Boys’ Team (Tuesday 8th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Boys’ Team (Friday 11th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: First Stage – Girls’ Team (Tuesday 8th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Girls’ Team (Friday 11th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Boys’ Doubles (Friday 11th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Girls’ Doubles Friday 11th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: Main Draw – Mixed Doubles (Friday 11th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: First Stage – Boys’ Singles (Thursday 10th August)
2017 Latin American Cadet Championships: First Stage – Girls’ Singles (Thursday 10th August)
