by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
After recovering from a two games to nil deficit to beat Bulgaria’s Krastina Ivanova (4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6), she caused an upset of note by beating Montenegro’s Ivona Petric, the no.7 seed, in three straight games (11-9, 11-7, 11-6). A confidence boosting success, she accounted for the host nation’s Tamara Hinic (11-9, 11-7, 11-8) to secure first place in the group.
Defeat for Ivona Petric but it was her only reverse, second place in the group was her eventual lot and thus progress to the main draw. Players finishing in first and second positions in each group advanced to the knock-out stage.
Problems for Ivona Petric, there were also problems for Serbia’s Andjela Menger, the no.6 seed. She beat colleague Matija Stajic (11-9, 11-6, 11-9) and Bulgaria’s Kalina Hristova (11-9, 9-11, 11-2, 11-3) but experienced defeat when facing Japan’s Yuki Tsutsui (11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8).
However, it was the only win recorded by Yuki Tsustsui who earlier had lost to Marija Stajic (4-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6), a fate that had also befallen Kalina Hristova (7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4).
The overall effect was that the Serbians finished as the most successful members of the group with two wins each; in such circumstances, the result between the players in question determines the final order. Thus it was first place for Andjela Menger with Marija Stajic in second position.
Difficulties for two prominent names, for the rest it was first place without defeat.
India’s Archana Girish Kamath and Germany’s Sophia Klee topped their respective groups without experiencing defeat, as did the Serbian trio comprising Sabina Surjan, Dragana Vignjevic and Tijana Jokic.
Success for highly rated names; in the Junior Girls’ Doubles event it was the same; the top four seeds all advanced to the semi-finals.
In the penultimate round Archana Girish Kamath and Dragana VignjevIc meet Sophia Klee and Yuki Tsutsui; in the opposite half of the draw Tijana Jokic and Sabina Surjan confront Andjela Menger and Marija Stajic.
Both the Junior Girls’ Singles and Junior Girls’ Doubles events conclude on Thursday 5th October.
