by Ian Marshall, Editor

Competing in Class 6, Ukraine’s Maryna Lytovchenko accounted for Romania’s Gabriela Constantin (11-7, 12-14, 11-8, 11-4) to conclude her first stage matches unbeaten; similarly Russia’s Raisa Chebanika and Poland’s Katarzyna Marszal, the respective second and third seeds, remained unscathed to top their groups.

Likewise, in Class 7, it was first place for Kelly van Zon of the Netherlands; she beat China’s Wang Rui (11-9, 11-3, 11-8) to reserve her place in the main draw. Top spot for Kelly van Zon, it was the same for for the two players next in the order of merit; Turkey’s Kubra Korkut and Russia’s Ulija Shishkina duly secured first places.

Progress in style, it was no different in Class 8; China’s Mao Jingdan overcame Hungary’s Zsofia Arloy (11-9, 11-2, 11-4). However, she is the only player in the category assured of first place; Norway’s Aida Dahlen, the no.2 seed and Thu Kamkasomphou of France, the no.3 seed, remain unbeaten but each has one match yet to play.

First place for the top seeds; the same scenario applies in Class 9. China’s Xiong Guiyan overcame Brazil’s Jennyfer Marques (10-12, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2) to reserve first place; a feat in the same class also achieved by Poland’s Karolina Pek, Turkey’s Neslihan Kavas and China’s Liu Meng. An unblemished record for Liu Meng but it was nearly tainted; in her concluding contest she needed the full five games to beat Korea Republic’s Kim Kunhea (8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5).

Notable names in control, it was no different in Class 10, where, as she has done so many times in the past, Poland’s Natalia Partyka asserted her authority; she brought her initial phase matches to a conclusion by overcoming Chinese Taipei’s Tian Shiau Wen (11-9, 11-3, 11-5). Also, it was first place in Brazil’s Bruna Alexandre, Australia’s Melissa Tapper and Denmark’s Sophie Walloe as it was for Turkey’s Merve Demir.

Places booked but in their concluding contest there were testing times for Bruna Alexandre and Sophie Walloe, both were extended the full five games distance by Chinese adversaries. Bruna Alexandre eventually overcame Hou Chunxiao (11-8, 9-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7). In a similar manner, Sophie Walloe accounted for Zhao Xiaojing (11-2, 15-17, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8), prior to sealing top spot courtesy of success in opposition to South Africa’s Sthabile Mnyandu (11-3, 11-3, 11-1).

“This match I felt fine; it was a match that I had to win. I feel good; I am now number one in the group which means I will be directly in the quarter-finals so I am very happy. I had a lot of nerves in the first game here in the World Championships, I hope in the next match I can improve on that and play more relaxed. I think I have done very well, my goal was to be number one in the group and I have done it, so I am satisfied. It couldn’t have been better. I think my play is very good right now.” Sophie Walloe

Exacting moments but, as in all the Women’s Singles standings events, the highest rated in each group prevailed. In Class 11, the category for players with a learning disability, it was somewhat different.
Russia’s Elena Prokofeva, the top seed, secured first place in her group by beating Japan’s Kanami Furukawa (11-6, 11-5, 11-7), as did Ukraine’s Natalya Kosmina when opposing Poland’s Dorota Nowacka (11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4).

However, for Krystyna Lysiak, the no.3 seed and like Dorota Nowacka from Poland as well as for Japan’s Sayuri Mori, the no.4 seed, after enjoying success on the opening day there was defeat. Krystyna Lysiak lost to Hong Kong’s Ng Mui Wui (11-6, 5-11, 14-12, 11-4); Sayuri Miri suffered at the hands of Russia’s Anzhelika Kosacheva (12-10, 11-13, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8).

Both Krystyna Lysiak and Sayuri Mori finished in second positions, Ng Mui Wi and Anzhelika Kosacheva duly remaining unbeaten to reserve first places.

2018 World Para Championships: Results and Draws