by Ian Marshall, Editor

Elizabet Abraamian has enjoyed a most successful fledgling career to date; notably at the European Youth Championships in 2016 in Guimarães she secured the Cadet Girls’ Singles title at the expense of Germany’s Wenna Tu; earlier this year in Cluj Napoca she concluded matters in the silver medal position. Competing on home soil, Romania’s Elena Zaharia prevented title retention.

Now the task is to emulate the likes her colleague in duty in Minsk and progress to become a senior player of note; in 2001 in Terni, Maria Dolgikh, then Maria Zelenova, won the Cadet Girls’ Singles title at the European Youth Championships. It would seem Elizabet Abraamian is on the right lines.

Defeat for Audrey Zarif in what was to prove a round of varying fortunes for France. Qualifier Laura Pfeffer departed; as status advised she was beaten by Ukraine’s Ganna Gaponova, the no.9 seed (3-11, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8). However, the reverse suffered by Laura Gasnier, when opposing Russia’s Anastasia Kolish (12-10, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6), was not necessarily to be predicted. Laura Gasnier commenced play as the no.21 seed, Anastasia Kolish was a qualifier.

Disappointment for France but there was a ray of light; Stéphanie Loeuillette, the no.22 seed, gained some degree of recompense against Russia, she overcame Valeria Shcherbatykh in a full distance seven games contest (10-12, 9-11, 15-13, 3-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8).

Meanwhile, for the leading names in action as the opening round of the Women’s Singles event concluded, the most prominent names, both from Japan emerged successful; Saki Shibata, the no.2 seed, beat Korea Republic’s Lee Yearam (11-6, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7), Satsuki Odo, the no.8 seed, ended the aspirations of Germany’s Chantal Mantz (11-7, 11-8, 13-11, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8).

The second round of the Women’s Singles event will be played on Friday 16th November.