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2018 ITTF Challenge, Spanish Open

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Surprise names advance, first phase exit for host nation stalwart

29 Mar 2018

Only first position sufficient to secure a place in the main draw at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Spanish Open in Guadalajara; there were plenty of surprise names who concluded the qualification tournament in top spots in the group stage of proceedings in the Women’s Singles event on Thursday 29th March.

Notably it was very much Asia that led the way in securing unexpected main draw reservations; the one major exception being Romania’s Arina Singeorzan; she concluded her initial stage matches unbeaten by causing the host nation excruciating pain.

First place in the group contrary to expectations for Yoon Hyobin (Photo: Alvaro Diaz)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

She beat Sara Ramirez (3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8), a player who for more than a decade has been a pivotal member of the national team and joined Italy’s Li Xiang as the European representatives secure first places against the odds.

Most impressively, Li Xiang preserved her unbeaten record by emerging successful in five games against Japan’s Mizuki Morizono (11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11), the cousin of Masataka and Misaki Morizono, the leading name in the group.

Defeat for Japan, contrary to expectations but the scales balanced more in their favour as Satsuki Odo and Yuka Minagawa accounted for the highest rated player in their respective group to maintain their unblemished record.

Satsuki Odo beat Stéphanie Loueillette of France (8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 14-12, 11-7), in a somewhat closer duel, decided by the minimal two point margin in the seventh game, Yuka Minagawa accounted for Puerto Rico’s Melanie Diaz (8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6, 4-11, 6-11, 11-9).

Notable success for Japan, it was the same for Korea with Yoon Hyobin, Kim Youjin and Sim Hyunju all maintaining their unbeaten records and contrary to expectations reserving main draw places. In the matches that brought qualification to a conclusion all three beat Spanish opposition. Yoon Hyobin overcame Marina Niguez (11-6, 11-4, 11-6, 11-3), Kom Yoijin accounted for Ainhoa Cristobal (11-2, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6); Sim Hyunju proved too strong for Natalia Miramontes (11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7).

Korean and Japanese players in form; Hong Kong’s Zhu Chengzhu and Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling added their names to the list of surprise group winners. Zhu Chengzhu beat the Czech Republic’s Dana Cechova, the highest rated player in her group (11-6, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5); Su Pei-Ling accounted for Spain’s Maria del Pilar Martin (11-5, 11-5, 11-7, 11-2).

Meanwhile, for the very top names on duty in the Women’s Singles qualification tournament, unbeaten records were maintain as main draw places were reserved.

However, for the two highest rated names life was fraught. Giorgia Piccolin needed six games to beat Hong Kong’s Liu Qi (11-7, 11-7, 18-20, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7); even more exacting Daria Trigolos of Belarus required the full seven to overcome Italy’s Veronika Mosconi (11-3, 11-3, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6).

Tense times, for the next in line, life was less exacting. Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing concluded her initial stage adventures with victory over Russia’s Irina Ermakova in straight games (11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9), in one game more Poland’s Katarzyna Grzybowska-Franc defeated Mak Tze Wing’s colleague, Yam Yee Lok (11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8).

The main draw in the Women’s Singles event commences on Friday 30th March.

Challenge Series 2018 Spanish Open Yoon Hyobin Arina Singeorzan

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