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ITTF Challenge

2017 ITTF Challenge, Spanish Open

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Challenge Series

Alvaro Robles justifies status, alongside Carlos Machado keeps Spanish hopes alive

24 Nov 2017

The leading names in the lower half of the draw in the opening round of the Men’s Singles event at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Spanish Open in Almeria all enjoyed success on the afternoon of Friday 24th November.

Furthermore, it meant good news for the host nation; Alvaro Robles the no.5 seed, accounted for Austria’s Simon Pfeffer in five games (11-6, 11-2, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7).

Alvaro Robles leading the host nation's challenge (Photo: Bogdan Pasek)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Similarly, Hong Kong’s Jiang Tianyi, the no.2 seed, beat Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu (11-4, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5), Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan, the no.4 seed overcame Romania’s Alin Spelbus (11-9, 11-3, 16-14, 12-10); not to be outdone India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, the no.8 seed, ended the hopes of David Serdaroglu, like Simon Pfeffer from Austria (11-6, 11-2, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7).

Success for Spain and there was more success; Carlos Machado, the no.16 seed, defeated Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo (13-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4).

However, the success was balanced with disappointment. Conversely, there were defeats, the being that of Jesus Cantero, the no.15 seed; he suffered at the hands of Sweden’s Hampus Soderlund, the highest rated player in the qualification tournament. The 35 year old Spaniard lost in six games (10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6).

Defeat for Jesus Cantero, it was also defeat for his colleagues who had progressed through the qualification tournament. Carlos Cabellero was beaten by Sweden’s Elias Ranefur, 26 seed (11-4, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9), Endika Diez departed at the hands Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic, the no.17 seed (11-6, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6). Relatively comprehensive defeats, straight games losses, for Miguel Vilchez, it was very different. He came within an ace of beating Korea’s Seo Hyundeok, the no.13 seed; he experienced defeat by the very narrowest of margins (11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10).

So near to causing an upset, for Denmark’s Tobias Rasmussen, it was the quite opposite. He did cause an upset and by the very narrowest of margins; eventually he overcame Belgium’s Florent Lambiet, the no.21 seed (9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9).
The end of the road for the Florent Lambiet contrary to predictions; it was the same for Croatia’s Frane Kojic; the no.24 seed, he was beaten by Austria’s Andreas Levenko (11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7, 11-9).

Play in the second round of the Men’s Singles event will be completed in entirety on later in the evening.

Challenge Series 2017 Spanish Open Alvaro Robles Carlos Machado

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Day 2 - 2017 ITTF Challenge Spanish Open