by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
After accounting for Daria Trigolos of Belarus, the no.9 seed (11-9, 11-4, 2-11, 11-9), she caused an even greater upset by overcoming Germany’s Wan Yuan, the no.4 seed, in a most impressive manner (11-5, 11-7, 11-2)
“I was really confident throughout the match. I worked really well with my coach. He gave me be the best tips when I needed them.” Orsolya Feher
One surprise name through the last eight and there were three more, although one member of the trio was no surprise whatsoever. China’s Chen Ke, the winner last year in Germany and the no.12 seed in Budapest, duly progressed by ending the hopes of Chinese Taipei. In her opening contest she accounted for Tsai Yu-Chin, the no.17 seed (11-5, 11-6, 11-3) prior to defeating Lin Chia-Hsun, the no.3 seed, one round later (11-7, 11-5, 11-1).
Somewhat conversely, the appearance of Poland’s Natalia Bajor as well as that of England’s Ho Tin-Tin in the round of the last eight was a surprise. Natalia Bajor, the no.10 seed, beat Russia’s Maria Malanina, the no.18 seed (11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7), prior to ousting Maria Tsaptsinos, the no.29 seed and like Tin-Tin Ho from England (7-11, 12-10, 15-13, 11-7).
Notably Maria Tsaptsinos was very much a player in form. In the opening round, she had beaten Alina Nikitchanka of Belarus, the no.6 seed (11-8, 11-7, 11-5).
“Against Alina, good tactics, patience and shot selection made the difference. I made few unforced errors, I got the tactics right and I was able to dominate the match.” Maria Tsaptsinos
Defeat for one English player in round two, not for another. Tin-Tin Ho, after overcoming the host nation’s Leila Imre in round one (11-5, 11-8, 11-7) reserved her last eight place by ending the hopes of Spain’s Zhang Xuan, the no.21 seed and like Maria Tsaptsinos very much a player in form. In the first round she remained calm under pressure to record a closely contested five games success against Audrey Zarif of France, the no.8 seed (11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-6).
“I like playing in the morning as it gives a chance to warm up in the arena not in the training hall. I will take one match at the time but so far so good.” Tin-Tin Ho
Surprises but not where the top two names were concerned; both from Hong Kong, Minnie Soo Wai Yam and Mak Tze Wing progressed unhindered.
Minnie Soo Wai Yam beat the host nation’s Fanni Harasztovich (11-6, 11-7, 11-8), before overcoming Slovakia’s Tatiana Kukulova, the no.28 seed (11-13, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9); in a somewhat similar fashion, Mak Sze Wing defeated Croatia’s Sun Jiayi, the no.20 seed (11-6, 11-9, 11-7) followed by success in opposition to Ukraine’s Solomiya Brateyko, the no.13 seed (11-13, 11-5, 11-8, 11-4).
“After I lost the first game against Tatiana I had to take my time on the first attack and put more rotation on the ball. She plays with a very special rhythm; it took time to get used to it.” Minnie Soo Wai Yam
At the quarter-final stage, Minnie Soo Wai Yam meets Romania’s Adina Diaconu, the no.5 seed, the second round winner over Belgium’s Lisa Lung, the no.16 seed (10-12, 7-11, 11-2, 11-8. 11-4); Chen Ke opposes Russia’s Mariia Tailakova, the no.7 seed, the victor in round two in opposition to Nadezhda Bogdanova, the no.11 seed (11-7, 5-11. 11-9, 11-4).
“I had a sleepy start and went two-nil down against Lisa. I had to change my tactics completely then I became more on charge of the match.” Adina Diaconu
Meanwhile, in the lower half of the draw, Orsolya Feher plays Tin-Tin Ho, Natalia Bajor confronts Mak Tze Wing.
The matches are scheduled for later in the day, commencing at 7.50pm (local time).
