by Ian Marshall, Editor

However, for the remaining leading teams in the initial phase of the Cadet Girls’ Team competition, life was more fraught.

Spain’s Ainhoa Cristobal and Eugienia Sastre, the no.3 seeds, needed the full five matches in both contests to secure pole position in their group. They found Anna Peters and Chana Van der Venne of the Netherlands, alongside Russia’s Mariia Stepanova and Anastasya Kovrigina most worthy opponents.

Tough tests but first place in the group the end result; for Italy’s Caterina Angeli and Nicole Arlia, the no.4 seeds, as well as for the combination of Romania’s Natalia Ianau and Sweden’s Nomin Bassin, the no.5 seeds, life was very different.

Caterina Angeli and Nicole Arlia finished in runners up spot behind the host nation’s Ines Goncalves and Ines Salgado; for Natalia Ianau and Nomin Bassin, it was third position. They ended the day next in line to China’s Wang Xinyu and Luan Zuer. Spain’s Claudia Perez and Jana Riera ended play second on the list.

Meanwhile, as play progressed in the initial phase of the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, the top three names all secured first places in the respective groups; Anna Hursey of Wales alongside Ines Matos and Patricia Santos enjoyed success. Alas for Ines Salgado, the no.4 seed, there was defeat. She was beaten by Nicole Arlia.

A somewhat surprise first place, the end result for Nicole Arlia; lower down the order it was the same for Russia’s Anastasya Kovrigina, China’s Wang Xinyu and Jeanne Robbes of France.

In the Cadet Girls’ Team event, only outfits finishing in first positions in each group were guaranteed main draw places; in the Cadet Girls’ Singles competition, the top two names progressed.

Play at the 2018 Portugal Junior and Cadet Open concludes on Friday 30th November.