by Ian Marshall, Editor
Both remained unbeaten to secure first places; however they were not necessarily the players who grabbed the attention, Ukraine’s Oleksandra Tsiupko, Tatsiana Chakavaya of Belarus and Singapore’s Liu Sijia were very much the players to shine. Like the top two names, it was a day without defeat and first place in the group.
In the key contests against the highest rated opponents, Oleksandra Tsiupko beat the Czech Republic’s Gabriela Stepanova, the third highest listed on initial stage duty (11-9, 11-8, 11-9), Tatsiana Chakavaya accounted for Slovenia’s Lea Paulin, the sixth highest (11-4, 11-7, 6-11, 13-11). Meanwhile, Liu Sija overcame Veronika Hud, like Oleksandra Tsiupko from Ukraine, the eighth in the order of merit (11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9).
Defeats but there was consolation, all three ended the day in second place and thus advanced to the main draw.
Furthermore, in the initial stage of play, there were more unexpected first places. Also from Ukraine, Vsasylysa Kannunnikova topped her group contrary to predictions as did Israel’s Shima Safaei, Lavanya Maruthapandian of the United States and Lithuania’s Kornelija Riliskyte. Likewise, upsetting the order of merit, Slovakia’s Zuzana Pekova, Turkey’s Ece Harac and Sakura Yokoi reserved pole positions, a feat likewise achieved contrary to predictions by Ulyana Alkhouskaya of Belarus.
Success against the odds; for the other leading names on first day junior girls’ singles action it was a day without blemish. Additional to Camille Lutz and Elizabet Abraamian, top positions were secured by Serbia’s Andjela Menger, Japan’s Honami Nakamori and Croatia’s Marta Vukelic.
The initial phase complete, in the junior girls’ doubles play progressed to the latter rounds. At the semi-final stage, Romania’s Tania Plaian and Russia’s Elena Zironova, the top seeds, oppose Camille Lutz and French colleague Prithika Pavade, the no.5 seeds; Romania’s Lucia Mitrofan and Elena Zaharia, the no.23 seeds, oppose Japan’s Ami Shiayama and Sajkura Yoko, the no.32 seeds.
Play in the junior girls’ singles and junior girls’ doubles events conclude on Thursday 14th February.
