by Ian Marshall, Editor
A main draw place for Zhou Qihao, likewise colleagues, Zheng Peifeng, Liu Dingshuo and Liang Jingkun progressed.
In the fourth preliminary round Zheng Peifeng beat compatriot, Zhou Yu (8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8), Liu Dingshuo accounted for Frenchman Can Akkuzu (11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9), Liang Jingkun ended the hopes of Germany’s Bastian Steger (11-9, 12-10, 11-6, 11-2).
Notable performances, it was the same from India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran as it was from the brothers Maharu and Kazuhiro Yoshimura. Sathiyan Gnanasekaran beat Korea Republic’s Jeong Sangeun (6-11, 11-13, 11-3, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6) to cause arguably the shock of the round; Maharu Yoshimura accounted for Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar (11-2, 12-14, 11-5, 11-2, 11-7), Kazuhiro Yoshimura ended the hopes of Germany’s Ruwen Filus (7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 13-15, 11-6, 11-8).
Success for Japan and there was more; Jin Ueda overcame Russia’s Alexander Shibaev (9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8), Koyo Kanamitsu ended the hopes of Korea Republic’s Hwang Minha (11-6, 11-9, 11-4, 3-11, 11-7). Conversely for the Land of the Rising Sun there were defeats, Masataka Morizono was beaten by Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin (11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6); Mizuki Oikawa experienced defeat at the hands of England’s Liam Pitchford (11-5, 12-14, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10).
Equally, despite defeat for Ruwen Filus, there was success for Germany; Patrick Franziska eventually gained the better of Denmark’s Zhai Yujia in a full distance encounter (9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 2-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8).
“He totally surprised me how confident he was today. I had to play my best table tennis to win. He led by three games to two. Now I am in the first round. A tough fight, I thought as number 15 in the world, that I would be seeded. I fought hard for this place.” Patrick Franziska
Good form from Patrick Franziska, it was the same from Ricardo Walther. He doused the hopes of the host nation by beating Stefan Fegerl (11-8, 11-9, 12-10, 12-10).
“He is enormously safe. Usually I lose to Stefan. Now I am in the main round. There is such a strong field of participants and I did it, great.” Stefan Fegerl
Similarly for the Korea Republic, in addition to Jang Woojin, Park Ganghyeon was in form. He beat Slovenia’s Deni Kozul (11-9, 12-10, 11-6, 11-2).
Play in the main draw of the Men’s Singles event commences on Thursday 8th November.
