by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
The biggest disappointment was the defeat of Katarzyna Grzybowska-Franc, the no.16 seed; she was beaten by the very narrowest of seven game decisions by Ukrainian qualifier, Ievgeniia Vasylieva (5-11, 11-8, 12-10, 10-12, 16-14, 7-11, 12-10).
Conversely, the defeats for Magdelana Sikorska, Anna Wegrzyn and Katarzyna Wegrzyn were as anticipated; all lost to seeded players. Anna Wegrzyn was beaten by Japan’s Miyu Maeda, the no.14 seed (11-4, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4), Katarzyna Wegrzyn suffered at the hands of Sweden’s Linda Bergström, the no.32 seed (11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-2). Similarly, Magdalena Sikorska experienced defeat when facing Serbia’s Andrea Todorovic, the no.31 seed (11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9).
Meanwhile, Li Qian, Natalia Partyka and Kinga Stefanska all justified their seeded status. Li Qian, the no.8 seed, used her elegant defensive skills to good effect to beat Hungary’s Mercedes Nagyvaradi (11-6, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5); Natalia Partyka, the no.13 seed, overcame Marie Migot of France (15-13, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9). Similarly, Kinga Stefanska, the no.30 seed, accounted for India’s Madhurika Patkar (11-9, 11-13, 11-0, 11-5, 11-9).
Defeat for Katarzyna Grzybowska-Franc but she was not the only seed to suffer as play progressed in the lower half of the Women’s Singles first round draw.
Spain’s Galia Dvorak, the no.23 seed, was beaten by Korea’s Choo Moonyoung (11-4, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3); Hungary’s Dora Madarasz, the no.21 seed, lost to India’s Pooja Sahasrabudhe (12-10, 11-4, 12-10, 11-2). Likewise, Slovenia’s Alex Galic, the no.29 seed, departed; she experienced defeat at the hands of England’s Tin-Tin Ho (6-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4).
Surprises but alongside Li Qian, the leading names prevailed in the opening round of the Women’s Singles event.
Turkey’s Hu Melek, the no.2 seed, beat Belgium’s Nathalie Marchetti (11-6, 11-7, 11-6, 11-2), Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem, the no.4 seed, accounted for Switzerland’s Rahel Aschwanden (9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3). In a similar vein, Japan’s Saki Shibata prevailed against the Czech Republic’s Karin Adamikova (12-10, 11-4, 11-5, 11-5).
The second round matches in the Women’s Singles event will be played later in the day.
