by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Success for one player who had been required to negotiate the Men’s Singles qualification tournament; as the top half of the draw in the opening round progressed there were wins for five more players who had been required to negotiate the preliminary stage.
The Czech Republic’s David Reitspies beat Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro, the no.14 seed (11-7, 11-8, 11-6, 3-11, 12-10); Korea’s Kim Minhyeok accounted for Italy’s Marco Rech Daldosso, the no.17 seed (11-6, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6).
Meanwhile, to balance the books for Hungary, Daniel Kosiba beat the man in form, he accounted for Joe Seyfried of France, the no.23 seed (15-13, 11-2, 8-11, 11-9, 1-11, 11-8); the previous week at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open, Joe Seyfried had won the Under 21 Men’s Singles title.
A second round place booked by Daniel Kosiba contrary to status; it was the same for Slovakia’s Ingemar Peter and Moldova’s Andrei Putuntica. Ingemar Peter ousted Argentina’s Nicolas Galvano, the no.29 seed (11-8, 12-10, 13-11, 11-8); Andrei Putintica ended the aspirations of Kazakhstan’s Denis Zholudev (11-3, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 13-11).
Problems for notable names but not for the top four names in the top half of the draw in the opening round of the Men’s Singles event; Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Ng Pak Nam alongside Korea’s Cho Seungmin and Frenchman Abdel-Kader Salifou all enjoyed success.
Ho Kwan Kit, the top seed and Cho Seungmin the no.4 seed, both overcame Spanish adversaries; Ho Kwan Kit accounted for Joan Masip (8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6, 11-3), Cho Seungmin ended the dreams of Guillermo Martinez (10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4).
Hard fought wins, it was similar for Ng Pak Nam, the no.5 seed, who beat Australia’s Lin Yuqi (11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9) and for Abdel-Kader Salifou, the no.6 seed. He defeated Russia’s Nikita Artemenko (11-8, 11-9, 12-14, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9).
The Men’s Singles second round matches will be played later in the day.
