by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Having in the group stage of proceedings held a three games to one lead against Laura Pfeffer of France, the highest rated player in the group, before experiencing a narrow defeat against (8-11, 8-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7), Jennifer Jonsson reserved her place in the main draw courtesy of success in opposition to Iran’s Neda Shahsavari (11-7, 11-5, 11-5, 11-13, 9-11, 11-4).
Hard fought contests but seemingly better for the experience, in the opening round, she accounted for Song Maeum, the no.10 seed, in an engagement that was even harder fought than those of the previous day (7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 18-20, 15-13, 11-9).
Success against expectations for Jennifer Jonsson, as play progressed in the lower half of the draw in the first round of the Women’s Singles event, there were more surprises with Belgium experiencing differing fortunes.
Lisa Lung, the no.30 seed, suffered defeat at the hands of Oceane Guisnel of France (6-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9); conversely Nathalie Marchetti accounted for Poland’s Magdelena Sikorska, the no.29 seed (9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7).
Wins against the odds, it was the same from the Czech Republic’s Karolina Mynarova, Korea’s Kim Haeun and Daria Trigolosc of Belarus. Karolina Mynarova beat Russia’s Olga Vorobova, the no.17 seed (11-5, 7-11, 6-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-8), Daria Trigolos overcame Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Chiao, the no.22 seed (8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7); Kim Haeun ended the hopes of Alina Arlouskaya of Belarus (11-5, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8).
Surprises but in the lower half of the draw there were no travails for the leading names. Japan and Russia enjoyed success; for the former Honoka Hashimoto, the no.2 seed, accounted for Sweden’s Daniela Moskovits, who after losing the opening game (11-7), was forced to withdraw from proceedings. At the same time, colleague Yui Hamamoto, the no.3 seed, beat Italy’s Veronika Mosconi (11-9, 11-5, 11-8, 11-3).
Meanwhile, flying the Russian flag, Polina Mikhailova, the no.5 seed accounted for Korea’s Lee Yearam (11-2, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5); Maria Dolgikh, the no.8 seed, ended the hopes of Spain’s Zhang Xuan (12-10, 11-4, 11-4, 11-03).
Notably prior to play commencing Japan’s Miyu Maeda, originally the fifth seed, had withdrawn from the tournament.
