by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Defeat for one seeded player as matters progressed in the lower half of the Men’s Singles first round draw; two more experienced the very same fate.

Austria’s Stefan Fegerl, the no.6 seed, was beaten by China’s Fang Yinchi (11-9, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8); the host nation’s Tomas Konecny, the no.16 seed, experienced defeat at the hands of Frenchman Tristan Flore (11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8).

Meanwhile, in the remaining contests, as play came to a conclusion on the opening day of main draw action, seeds prevailed but there was one very close call. Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, the no.4 seed, needed the full seven games to beat Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko (11-8, 1-11, 13-11, 12-14, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7).

Otherwise the favourites succeeded without due alarm, as Japan enjoyed more success. Kenta Matsudaira, the no.2 seed, beat Belgium’s Cédric Nuytinck (14-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8); in a somewhat similar manner Maharu Yoshimura, the no.15 seed, overcame Austria’s Daniel Habesohn (11-5, 11-1, 11-4, 11-5).

Success for Kenta Matsudaira and Maharu Yoshimura in impressive fashion; it was the same from Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson, the no.7 seed and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, the no.9 seed. Kristian Karlsson beat Portugal’s João Geraldo (11-6, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8), Hugo Calderano overcame a most dangerous adversary in the guise of China’s Li Yijie (13-15, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7).

In second round of the Men’s Singles event, in the lower half of the draw, Tomokazu Harimoto meets Maharu Yoshimura, Tristan Flore opposes Kristian Karlsson; Fang Yinchi meets Lin Yun-Ju, for Kenta Matsudaira, Hugo Calderanon awaits.

The second round of the Men’s Singles event commences at 4.00pm (local time) on Friday 25th August.