by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Livan Martinez and Juan Rondon alongside Jorge Campos and Andy Pereira both reserved places among the last four pairs. Furthermore, the positions were gained against the odds. Both combinations caused quarter-final upsets.

In a closely contested engagement Livan Martinez and Juan Rondon beat Brazil’s Humberto Manhani and Thiago Monteiro, the no.4 seeds (15-13, 11-3, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8); Andy Pereira and Jorge Campos accounted for Chile’s Manuel Moya and Felipe Olivares, the no.3 seeds (11-8, 11-9, 11-4).

Andy Pereira and Jorge Campos now meet Brazilian top seeds, Vitor Ishiy and Eric Jouti, Livan Martinez and Juan Rondon face Chile’s Gustavo Gomez and Juan Lamadrid, the no.2 seeds.

Vitor Ishiy and Eric Jouti reserved the last four place courtesy of success against Mexico’s Miguel Lara and Ricardo Villa (11-5, 11-8, 11-7), Gustavo Gomez and Juan Lamadrid recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Argentina’s Gaston Alto and Santiago Lorenzo (5-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7).

Similarly, as matters advanced towards the semi-final round of the Women’s Doubles competition there was an upset. At the quarter-final stage, Mexico’s Alejandrina Mendez and Yadira Silva, overcame Colombia’s Paula Medina and Luisa Zuluaga, the third seeds (11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 4-11, 12-10).

In the round of the last four pairs, Alejandrina Mendez and Yadira Silva meet Chile’s Judith Morales and Paulina Vega, the no.2 seeds; in the adjacent half of the draw. Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi and Gui Lin, the top seeds, oppose Argentina’s Camila Arguelles and Ana Codina, the fourth seeds.

Impressively in the quarter-final round Paulina Vega and Judith Morales overcame Cuba’s Lisi Castillo and Idalys Lovet (11-9, 11-8, 11-7). Likewise, in a not too dissimilar manner with just one game surrendered Bruna Takahashi and Gui Lin defeated Cristal Menesis and Daniela Ortega, also from Chile (11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-4), Camila Arguelles and Ana Codina ended the hopes of the Dominican Republic’s Eva Brito and Yasiris Ortiz (11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9).

Play in Havana concludes on Friday 9th March.

2018 Latin American Senior Championships: Men’s Team & Women’s Team – Seeding (Sunday 4th March)

2018 Latin American Senior Championships: Results – Men’s Team (Wednesday 7th March)

2018 Latin American Senior Championships: Results – Women’s Team (Wednesday 7th March)

2018 Latin American Senior Championships: Results – Men’s Singles Stage One (Wednesday 7th March)

2018 Latin American Senior Championships: Results – Women’s Singles (Wednesday 7th March)

2018 Latin American Senior Championships: Results – Men’s Doubles (Wednesday 7th March)

2018 Latin American Senior Championships: Results – Women’s Doubles (Wednesday 7th March)

2018 Latin American Senior Championships: Results – Mixed Doubles (Tuesday 6th March)