by Ian Marshall, Editor

In the opening match in the group, the host nation’s Raquel Martins, the no.5 seed, experienced defeat at the hands of Anna Hursey of Wales (11-6, 11-9, 12-10); likewise, Spain’s Andrea Perez, the no.7 seed, lost to Marie Chapet of France (3-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3).

Defeats but there was consolation for both Raquel Martins and Andrea Perez; it was their only reverse of the day, thus second position in the group and a place in the main draw was the eventual outcome. Anna Hursey and Marie Chapet remained unbeaten to reserve first positions.

However, for India’s Anusha Kutumbale, the no.6 seed, it was a different outcome. She had to settle for third place in her group and thus a first phase exit; she ended matters next in line to Emine Ernst of the Netherlands and Portugal’s Nerea Garcia.

Problems for three highly seeded players but no such travails for Sweden’s Jennie Edvinsson, the no.8 seed; she duly remained unbeaten to reserve first place in her group.

Similarly, further down the listings seeded players experienced problems. Portugal’s Ines Batista, the no.10 seed, finished in third place in her group behind China’s Han Feier and Spain’s Ana Maria Vertiz. No place reserved in the main draw for Ines Batista; it was the same for Karlijn Van Lierop of the Netherlands, the no.12 seed, she concluded matters in fourth spot behind Portugal’s Liu Yanzi, China’s Qin Xiaoce and Lavanya Maruthapandian of the United States.

Meanwhile, for India’s Suhana Sani, the no.11 seed, there was defeat but only one, she lost Berenice Marteau of France (9-11, 12-10, 11-5, 13-11) and thus progressed to the main draw. Berenice Marteau remained unbeaten to top the group.

The opening two rounds of the Junior Girls’ Singles event will be played later in the day.