by Ian Marshall, Editor
Jeremy Hazin, the top seed, beat Guatemala’s Kevin Ruano (11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6), in what was a round of mixed fortunes for Puerto Rico.
Angel Naranjo, the no.3 seed, overcame Guatemala’s Luis Ton (11-6, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10) but colleagues Jabdiel Torres and Axel Torres found Tai Ming-Wei and Kao Min-Chi just too strong. Tai Ming-Wei beat Jabdiel Torres, the no.12 seed (11-4, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8); in a closer contest Kao Min-Chi ended the hopes of Axel Torres (7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3, 12-10).
Wins as anticipated but in the opening round of the Junior Boys’ Singles event, there were surprises; the host nation experiencing problems. Peru’s Joel Cisneros, the no.14 seed, beat Oscar Villalta, the no.8 seed (7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7); Mudit Mahajan of the United States, the no.28 seed, accounted for Diego Orantes, the no.9 seed (5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9, 14-12).
Success against the odds for the United States and there was further such success.
Jayden Zhou, the no.19 seed, beat Guatemala’s Sergio Carrillo (11-5, 4-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4); not seeded Sahil Puri overcame Trinidad and Tobago’s N’Kose Rouse, the no.30 seed (11-7, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3). Likewise, not seeded, Ved Sheth added to the success of the Stars and Stripes, he ended the hopes of Peru’s Joel Cisneros, the no.8 seed (7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7).
Meanwhile in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event, other than for Costa Rica’s Alfredo Sanchez, the no.2 seed, who beat Puerto Rico’s Oscar Birriel (9-11, 11-6, 15-13, 11-6), the leading names have yet to start their quest.
It is the same in the Junior Girls’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles events where the main draw has yet to begin.
However, in the Hopes Boys’ Singles and Hopes Girls’ Singles events, the semi-finalists are known. In the former an all United States affair witnesses a contest between Jayden Zhou and Ved Sheth, in the opposite half of the draw Chinese Taipei’s Yang Tsan-Wei faces Puerto Rico’s Oscar Birriel.
Likewise in the Hopes Girls’ Singles event, the same national associations are present. Purvi Soni of the United States opposes Puerto Rico’s Kristal Melendez; the latter’s colleague, Edmarie Leon confronts Chinese Taipei’s Liu Ru-Yu.
Proceedings in El Salvador conclude on Sunday 19th August.
