by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
First place in the initial phase group attained, Amy Wang recorded an opening round win in opposition to Portugal’s Raquel Martins, the no.7 seed (11-7, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 11-5), a young lady who had not enjoyed the best of fortunes in the group phase of proceedings.
She had been beaten by China’s Han Guoyu (11-9, 12-10, 11-5) and had thus finished in second place. Han Guoyu had remained unbeaten but did not progress beyond the opening round. She experienced defeat at the hands of Celia Silva, like Raquel Martins from Portugal (12-14, 11-7, 3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5).
Notably, in the group stage of play, Celia Silva had experienced defeat at the hands of China’s Zuo Yue (11-7, 11-5, 11-8) and had finished in second place. Zuo Yue had duly topped the group and later reserved her second round spot; in the opening round, she accounted for Men Shuohan of the Netherlands (11-5, 11-2, 11-5, 11-2).
A hard fought opening round win for Amy Wang; life was less fraught for Zdena Blaskova, Lucie Gauthier and Franziska Schreiner.
Zdena Blaskova beat Croatia’s Hanna Loncarevic (11-6, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9), Lucie Gauthier defeated Portugal’s Patricia Santos (11-4, 11-7, 11-3, 8-11, 11-4); Franziska Schreiner ended the hopes of Croatia’s Hana Arapovic (11-9, 12-10, 2-11, 11-8, 11-5).
Meanwhile, in the Junior Girls’ Doubles event, the combination of Zdena Blaskova and Italy’s Jamila Laurenti, the top seeds, have yet to start their campaign; it is the same for the partnership comprising Amy Wang and England’s Denise Payet, the no.2 seeds.
However, the next pairs in the order of merit were on first round duty; coincidentally both ending the hopes of Estonian partnerships. Germany’s Sarah Mantz and Franziska Schreiner, the no.3 seeds, beat Siri Roosve and Annigrate Sumets (11-7, 11-7, 11-3); in a similar vein Lucie Gauthier in harness with colleague Berenice Marteau, the no.4 seeds, accounted for Sirli Jaanimagi and Hille Millert (11-5, 11-3, 11-9).
Play in the Junior Girls’ Singles and Junior Girls’ Doubles events concludes on Thursday 10th May.
