by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
However, for Shi Xunyao and 18 year old Huang Fanzhen, there were testing times.
After beating Serbia’s Andjela Menger (11-7, 11-5, 11-7, 3-11, 11-7) and Poland’s Katarzyna Wegrzyn (11-13, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6), Shi Xunyao needed the full seven games to overcame India’s Yashini Sivasankar (11-8, 10-12, 9-11, 14-12, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7).
Similarly, one round earlier Huang Fanzhen was extended the full distance by Japan’s Yumeno Soma, the no.16 seed (11-7, 1-11, 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-1, 11-5) prior to overcoming Prithika Pavade of France (11-4, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6) to reserve her last eight place. Notably, Prithika Pavade was a player in form; in the third round she had beaten Russia’s Anastasia Kolish, the no.7 seed (12-14, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8, 2-11, 5-11, 11-5).
Meanwhile, for 17 year old Sun Yizhen life was only marginally less torturous. Following success against Italy’s Arianna Barani (11-3, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6), she required six games to beat Romania’s Andreea Dragoman, the no.10 seed (12-10, 9-11, 11-2, 11-1, 10-12, 11-5) prior to reserving her quarter-final berth courtesy of success in opposition to Isa Coka of France (11-5, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7).
Most impressively one round earlier, Isa Cok had ended the hopes of Croatia’s Andrea Pavlovic, the no.4 seed, in a duel decided by the very minimal margin (9-11, 11-7, 11-1, 9-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10).
Surprises and there were more; Serbia’s Sabina Surjan, the top seed, suffered a fourth round defeat at the hands of Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus (7-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-4, 11-7). Likewise, India’s Prapti Sen ousted the Czech Republic’s Zdena Blaskova, the no.6 seed (11-5, 12-10, 17-15, 11-6) in round three, before losing to Russia’s Mariia Tailakova (11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9).
Additionally, Romania’s Tania Plaian, the no.5 seed, departed in round two. She was beaten by Olga Vishniakova, like Mariia Tailakova from Russia (11-4, 11-5, 11-13, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7). Alas for Olga Vishniakova the progress was short lived; she recorded a third win over the host nation’s Gabriela Stepanova (12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7) prior to losing Lucie Gauthier of France (11-8, 10-12, 0-11, 14-12, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7).
Earlier than anticipated exits; for India’s Archana Girish Kamath and Amy Wang of the United States, as with Shi Xunyao it was progress as anticipated. Amy Wang, the no.3 seed, beat Serbia’s Tijana Jokic, the no.11 seed (13-11, 11-9, 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 12-10) to reserve her last eight place; in the same round Archana Girish Kamath, the no.8 seed, ousted Poland’s Julia Szmczak (11-4, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7).
At the quarter-final stage Nadezhda Bogdanova meets Huang Fanzhen, Archana Girish Kamath opposes Sun Yizhen; in the opposite half of the draw Amy Wang plays Maiia Tailakova, Lucie Gauthier confronts Shi Xunyao.
The matches are scheduled for later in the day.
