by Ian Marshall, Editor
Nikhil Kumar set the standard, the no.15 seed, having caused a major upset by beating Mexico’s Marcos Madrid, the no.5 seed, in his opening men’s singles contest (7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 14-12, 11-6) maintained his good form to overcome the Dominican Republic’s Emil Santos, the no.10 seed. Against Marcos Madrid he had saved two match points in the sixth game, facing the man from the Caribbean, life was less fraught; he prevailed in straight games (11-6, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7).
“Having won this morning I knew I had a good chance to qualify but I knew I must play well. He was not so strong in the short game; I played short whenever possible. Also key to the win was to spin the first ball, a lot of rotation.” Nikhil Kumar
Disappointment for the Dominican Republic, more followed; in the women’s singles event after winning the opening game, Eva Brito, the no.11 seed, was beaten by Alicia Cote, the no.14 seed (4-11, 15-13, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5); the winner earlier in the day when facing Puerto Rico’s Melanie Diaz, the no.8 seed (7-11, 8-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7).
“In the first game I didn’t receive her services well; she attacked first. After the second game I changed, I served short and when she served half-long I tried to topspin the ball. It’s my third time in the tournament, first time I have qualified for the main draw.” Alicia Cote
Success for Canada was followed by more, Jeremy Hazin, very much the man in form. In his opening contest he had accounted for Chile’s Gustavo Gomez, the no.8 seed (11-6, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7), he followed with a similar straight games success. He beat Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez, the no.11 seed (11-7, 11-5, 13-11, 11-4).
“He is a bit one sided in his play, he has a very good forehand but his backhand is not so strong; so I focused on directing my first attacks to his backhand and when blocking creating angles.” Jeremy Hazin
In the remaining second series of men’s singles matches in the group phase of proceedings; Canada’s Marko Medjugorac, the no.13 seed, having earlier in the day lost to the host nation’s Brian Afanador, the no.7 seed (11-3, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8), recovered to beat Chile’s Juan Lamadrid, the 9 seed (11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8).
Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic’s Samuel Galvez, the no.12 seed, made a fine start to his campaign in the men’s singles event; he beat Guatemala’s Allan Gutierrez, the no.14 seed (10-12, 11-6, 7-11, 12-14, 11-9, 11-3).
Likewise in the women’s singles competition, there was success after disappointment. Chile’s Judith Morales, the no.13 seed, after having lost to Lily Zhang of the United States, the no.5 seed, in her initial contest (11-3, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7) accounted for Guatemala’s Mabelyn Enriquez (11-8, 11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 11-6).
One series of matches remains, to be completed later in the day, in each of the men’s and women’s event.
