by Ian Marshall, Editor
One match still to complete in each group, players finishing in first and second positions advancing to the main draw, all are set fair to advance to the second stage.
Notably, all beat the highest rated player in their group to enhance their opportunities to reserve top spots. Diogo Silva caused the biggest upset by overcoming Argentina’s Matias Guadeloupe, the no.11 seed (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4); similarly Matias Pedraza accounted for Kai Zarehbin of the United States, the no.12 seed (11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5).
Likewise, in fine form, Esteban Nannig beat Peru’s Carlos Fernandez, the no.15 seed (11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 11-7); Jeremias Paredes defeated Aziz Zarehbin, the no.16 seed, from the United States (11-8, 4-11, 12-14, 11-8, 11-9).
Meanwhile, there was one further Brazilian who caught the eye, Shim Joon, only 15 years old. Not listed on the under 18 boys’ world rankings, he accounted for Chile’s Cristian Carrillo (11-5, 11-3, 11-7) and Peru’s Adrian Rubinos (11-7, 11-5, 12-10). Now in the concluding contest, he meets Argentina’s Mariano Mendez, the no.14 seed. Notably in the opening engagement of the day Mario Mendez suffered at the hands of Adrian Rubinos (11-7, 11-6, 11-8); thus like colleague Diogo Silva, Shim Joon has very much eyes on first place.
Problems for seeded players, for the top four names it was mission accomplished; Chile’s Nicolas Burgos and Andres Martinez, alongside Argentina’s Santiago Lorenzo and Brazil’s Rafael Torino duly completed their group stages matches without defeat and thus reserved first positions.
Surprises in the junior boys’ singles event, there were also surprises in the first stage of the cadet boys’ singles competition; the first phase having been completed. Against the odds, Ecuador’s Paul Ponce Cedeño and Jeremy Cedeño secured first places in their respective groups, as did Chile’s Josthyn Miranda and Canada’s Max Ji. Impressively, Peru’s Carlos Fernandez and Brazil’s Henrique Noguti, the top two names on duty ended the day unbeaten in top spots.
The main draw in both the junior girls’ singles and cadet girls’ singles events commences on Saturday 23rd March.
