by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Nils Hohmeier was the player to cause the biggest upset, he beat Italy’s Marco Rech-Daldosso (11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7), having earlier lost to Israel’s Michael Tauber (12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 16-14, 11-9).
It was very much the same scenario for Russia’s Vildan Gadiev, he lost to Brazil’s Carlos Ishida (6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9), before returning to the table to beat Turkey’s Ibrahim Gündüz (9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8). Likewise Simon Soderlund suffered defeat at the hands of Germany’s Denis Klein (11-6, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9), before beating Thailand’s Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon (11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-7, 12-10).
Defeat then success; it was no different for Tom Sfiligoj and Pavel Khripunenko; Tom Sfiligoj lost to Austria’s Alexander Chen (11-7, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6) then later returned to the action to beat Luxembourg’s Luka Mladenovic (7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6). In a similar vein Pavel Khripunenko beat Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tai-Wei 11-6, 21-19, 11-8, 11-8), having in his opening contest lost to Spain’s Carlos Franco (11-4, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8).
Problems for noteworthy names; however, other than for Marco Rech Daldosso it was a successful start in the quest for a main draw place for leading names. Japan’s Kenji Matsudaira, Frenchman Alexandre Robinot and Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro all ended the opening day without defeat, as did Chinese Taipei’s Chiang Hubng-Chieh, Italy’s Mihai Bobocica, Uzbekistan’s Zokhis Kenjaev and Spain’s Jesus Cantero.
Players finishing in first positins in groups no.1 to no.16 advance to the main draw; first places in groups no.17 to no.48 progress to a preliminary round; winners of the preliminary round matches gain main draw places.
The qualification tournament concludes on Wednesday 11th April.
