by Simon Daish
Two rounds are set to be contested in the Women’s Singles event on Day Two, starting with the Round of 16.
Audrey Zarif flew out of the blocks on Day One of the Women’s Singles draw with the French competitor claiming an impressive victory over ninth seed Polina Mikhailova in the Round of 64 before seeing off 21st seed Giorgia Piccolin in the following round. Third seed Honoka Hashimoto is next up for Audrey Zarif – will there be another shock win courtesy of the sole remaining French player left in the category?
One of the star performers of the opening day, but Zhu Chengzhu is set for her toughest challenge yet on Day Two. The unseeded player from Hong Kong meets Japan’s Saki Shibata in the Round of 16, a player who is not only the no.1 seed for the competition but is also the defending champion.
The Men’s Singles competition will also see two rounds of fixtures played out with Korea Republic’s Cho Seungmin now leading the way as the highest seed left standing.
Fifth seed Cho Seungmin endured a difficult conclusion to Day One in De Haan as he exited the Under 21 Men’s Singles event to Japanese opposition and the Korean player will face Japan on Day Two with qualifier Takeru Kashiwa awaiting in the Round of 16.
Keeping the host nation’s hopes alive is Cedric Nuytinck who, on this stage two years ago, successfully made it through to the final. In the Round of 16 the no.8 seed will meet face-to-face with Gerrit Engemann – the German was responsible for sending home Belgium’s Florent Lambiet in the previous round but can Cedric Nuytinck avoid the same fate?
Also keep an eye out for Darko Jorgic’s encounter with Marcos Madrid as the no.7 and no.16 seeds do battle for the first time at an international ranking event. Darko Jorgic reached the quarter-finals stage at the tournament in 2017, will he achieve the same feat one year on?
Day Two also sees both the Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles tournaments officially commence, starting with Round of 16 action leading right up the semi-finals stage while the race for the two Under 21 titles draws to a close.
Watch the action unfold live from De Haan via tv.ittf.com
