by Ian Marshall, Editor
In fact, her name does not even appear on the current under 21 women’s world rankings; she started the day with a hard fought seven games win against Belgium’s Margo Degraef decided by the minimal margin in the deciding game (11-8, 9-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9), before less dramatically overcoming Italy’s Veronica Mosconi (12-14, 11-4, 11-4, 12-10, 11-7) and Slovenia’s Ana Tofant (11-5, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9).
Defeat for Ana Tofant, the highest rated player in the group, being listed at no.39 on the current under 21 women’s world rankings, it was her second reverse of the day. Earlier, she had been beaten by Margo Degraef (11-5, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8); third place was her eventual lot. Tania Plaian and Margo Degraef progressed to the second stage.
In each of the 12 groups, players finishing in first and second positions advanced to stage two.
First place against the odds for Tania Plaian, it was the same for Poland’s Julia Slazak and Sweden’s Christina Källberg, both finished ahead of the highest ranked; respective runners up spots were secured by Filippa Bergand, also from Sweden and by Austria’s Karoline Mischek.
Meanwhile, in the remaining groups it was first place as ranking indicated. In addition to Adina Diaconu and Andreea Dragoman, Oceane Guisnel of France, Russia’s Maria Malanina, Hungary’s Leonie Hartbricht and the Czech Republic’s Marketa Sevcikova all reserved first places.
Likewise, Turkey’s Olga Yilmaz, Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus and England’s Tin-Tin duly finished the in top spot.
