by Ian Marshall, Editor

All were making their first steps in international waters, a situation that also applied to Edmarie Leon in the Cadet Girls’ Singles competition; likewise she started as the lowest rated player in her group. She remained unbeaten to secure first place and a passport to the main draw; success against Argentina’s Elea Hernandez, the no.8 seed (11-6, 11-4, 12-14, 11-8) was the notable win for Edmarie Leon;

Likewise in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event, Axel Torres beat Guatemala’s Sergio Torres, the no.6 seed (11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9) and Oscar Birriel overcame El Salvador’s Mareo Martinez, the no.10 seed (11-7, 13-15, 12-14, 11-6, 11-5).

However, for Pablo Figueroa it was a different journey to top spot. In his opening group phase contest he lost to Guatemala’s Jorge Chacon in five games (8-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9) but in his concluding engagement he beat Costa Rica’s José Perez, the no.12 seed, in three straight games (11-6, 12-10, 11-4).

Earlier in the second series of matches, José Perez had accounted for Jorge Chacon in four games (11-4, 11-8, 3-11, 11-5); thus games ratio decided, it was first position for Pablo Figueroa (5:3), followed by Jorge Chacon (4:5) and José Perez (3:4). Alas for José Perez there was no place in the main draw; players finishing in first and second positions in each group in all events advance to the second stage.

Success against the odds for Puerto Rico, it was the same for the United States. Both Jonathan Qin and Alexander Wu remained unbeaten to top their respective groups, causing Costa Rica heartaches. Jonathan Qin beat Alfredo Sanchez, the no.2 seed (11-7, 11-7, 13-11), Alexander Wu accounted for Ricardo Azofeifa, the no.9 seed (11-8, 11-6, 11-8).

Problems for notable names in the initial phase of the Cadet Boys’ Singles event but no problems for the most notable of all; Peru’s Carlos Fernandez, the top seed, duly topped his group in style.

Likewise in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, the flag of the Stars and Stripes flew high; Purvi Soni beat Chile’s Macarena Montecino, the no.7 seed (13-11, 11-5, 10-12, 3-11, 11-8).

A fine effort from Purvi Soni but the player to catch the eye in the first chapter of the Cadet Girls’ Singles event was Chinese Taipei’s Chen Tsai-Ni. Top spot in the group, she recorded straight games wins on each occasion, including success against Puerto Rico’s Brianna Burgos, the no.3 seed (11-3, 13-11, 12-10). Defeat but Puerto Rico could breathe easy; it was the only defeat for Brianna Burgos and thus second place, progress to the main draw was secured.

Testing times for Brianna Burgos but for the other leading names in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event it was top spot without defeat. El Salvador’s Cristina Machado finished in first place in her group as did Lavanya Maruthapandian of the United States and Kassandra Maldonado, like Brianna Burgos from the United States.

Meanwhile, in the Hopes Boys’ Singles event, four groups in the opening phase, Oscar Birriel was once again a player to catch the eye. He finished in first place in his group as did Jayden Zhou of the United States, Chinese Taipei’s Yang Tsan-Wei and Guatemala’s Luis Fernando Ton.

First place for Jayden Zhou; in the Hopes Girls’ Singles competition it was the same for colleague, Purvi Soni who notably beat Brianna Burgos, the top seed (11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8).

However, as in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event it was second place and progress to the main draw for Brianna Burgos as Puerto Rico enjoyed further success. Kristal Melendez and Edmarie Leon topped their groups as did Chinese Taipei’s Liu Ru-Yun, Argentina’s Manuela Pereyra and El Salvador’s Valeria Regalado.

Play continues on Saturday 18th August.