by Ian Marshall, Editor
The most unexpected name to book a last four place was that of the host country’s Irfan Cekic; no current world ranking, he exceeded all expectations.
He accounted for England’s Samuel Maybey, the no.25 seed (11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-6) and India’s Mudit Dani, the no.10 seed (11-4, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6) to make the quite ideal start. Increasingly confident, he overcame Andrei Labanau of Belarus, likewise a player with no current global status (11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10), to reserve his place in the quarter-finals where he continued his outstanding form. He caused the biggest upset of the day, he overcame Switzerland’s Lionel Weber, the top seed (13-11, 11-7, 14-12, 12-10, 6-11, 11-6).
Success against the odds for Irfan Cekic; in the Men’s Singles event, it was the same for both Paul Lavergne and Simon Soderlund.
Paul Lavergne, the no.24 seed, accounted for Sweden’s Jonathan Thimion (10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5), before ousting Luxembourg’s Eric Glod (8-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9) and Vadim Yarashenka of Belarus (11-6, 11-2, 11-9, 11-8) to reserve his place in the penultimate round. Neither Jonathan Thimion nor Vadim Yarashenka possess a current world ranking; Eric Glod was the no.3 seed.
Upsets after upsets; for Simon Soderlund, the no.8 seed, he duly negotiated his way to the quarter-final stage as anticipated, before likewise, he upset the order of merit; he overcame the host country’s Luka Mladenovic, the no.4 seed (7-11, 10-12, 11-0, 11-3, 11-3, 11-7) to secure his semi-final place.
Surprise semi-finalists, the only name to progress as status advised was Brian Afanador; a last eight place duly reserved, he beat Gleb Shamruk of Belarus, the no.6 seed (11-9, 11-9, 13-11, 13-11) to keep his title hopes very much alive.
At the semi-final stage Irfan Cekic meets Simon Soderlund, Paul Lavergne confronts Brian Afanador; play concludes on Saturday 8th September.
2018 Luxembourg Open: Entries – Men
2018 Luxembourg Open: Entries – Women
2018 Luxembourg Open: Results – Men’s Singles (Thursday 6th September)
2018 Luxembourg Open: Results – Women’s Singles (Thursday 6th September)
2018 Luxembourg Open: Roll of Honour – Past Champions