by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Hana Matelova was beaten by the host nation’s Petra Petek (12-10, 2-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-3) who in the very next round experienced defeat at the hands of Russia’s Yana Noskova (11-6, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3).

Similarly, Rachel Moret suffered at the hands of Spain’s Galia Dvorak (11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-9); notably for her conqueror there was progress. Galia Dvorak recorded a second round win in opposition to Chinese Taipei’s Liu Yu-Hsin (12-10, 13-11, 11-7, 11-4).

Otherwise for all other names it was progress to round three but for two players not without some moments of trepidation. Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm, the no.10 seed, needed the full seven games to beat Japan’s Miyuu Kihara (10-12, 11-9, 15-17, 11-6, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7), even more dramatically Ukraine’s Ganna Gaponova, the no.14 seed, recovered from a three games to nil deficit and the brink of defeat to emerge successful against Austria’s Amelie Solja (9-11, 4-11, 8-11, 13-11, 14-12, 11-9, 11-7),.

Tense moments but not for the top four names, the major contenders for honours, they reserved their third round places in style.

In the second round of proceedings, Japan’s Hitomi Sato, the top seed, beat Wu Yue of the United States (11-8, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6), colleague Miyu Kato, the no.2 seed, defeated the host nation’s Sun Jiayi (11-13, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7). Likewise, also from Japan, Honoka Hashimoto, the no.4 seed, accounted forJudith Liu of France (11-8, 11-7, 11-4, 11-3).

Meanwhile, not to be outdone by her Asian counterparts; Romania’s Elizabeta Samara, the no.3 seed, ended the hopes of Ukraine’s Tetyana Bilenko (11-8, 11-7, 11-4, 11-3).

The third round and quarter-finals of the Women’s Singles event will be played on Friday 13th April.