by Ian Marshall, Editor
It was a day of contrasting fortunes.
Men’s Singles
…………England’s Paul Drinkhall, the no.12 seed, beat Austria’s Stefan Fegerl, the top seed (11-7, 5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 2-11, 11-5, 11-6), prior posting a quarter-final success in opposition to Japanese qualifier Shogo Tahara (11-2, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7).
…………Russia’s 18 year old Lev Katsman recorded a shock third round against Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar, the no.2 seed (11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9). However, the euphoria was short lived; in the next round he was beaten by French qualifier Abdel-Kader Salifou (11-6, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5).
…………Puerto Rico’s 22 year old Brian Afanador set whole new standards for the Caribbean by becoming the first player from that part of the world to reach the semi-final stage of a men’s singles event at an ITTF Challenge Series or ITTF World Tour tournament. The no.19 seed, after beating Hungary’s Adam Szudi, the no.26 seed (11-3, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 6-11, 14-12, 11-8), he ousted Japanese qualifier, Yuta Tanaka (11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8).
…………Croatia’s Frane Kojic, the no.16 seed, caused a major third round upset; he beat Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre, the no.3 seed (9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6, 15-13). However, there was to be no semi-final place; in the next round he suffered at the hands of Frenchman, Andrea Landrieu, the no.21 seed (11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7).
Women’s Singles
…………Russia’s Polina Mikhailova, the no.5 seed, emerged the only surprise semi-finalist; she ended the hopes of Hong Kong. In the third round she beat Zhu Chengzhu, the no.28 seed (11-7, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6), prior to overcoming Ng Wing Nam, the no.3 seed (11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-5).
…………Slovakia’s Barbora Balazova reached her career first women’s singles semi-final on at an open international tournament. The no.4 seed she beat Hong Kong qualifier, Zhang Wenling (13-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6), prior to overcoming Russia’s Anna Bikbaeva (11-8, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5), also a qualifier.
…………Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the no.2 seed, kept the hopes of Hong Kong alive. After defeating Japan’s Sakura Mori, the no.15 seed (7-11, 13-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7), she ended the hopes of Italy’s Li Xiang, the no.17 seed (11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6).
…………Japan’s Hina Hayata made her intentions perfectly clear. The top seed, she beat colleague and qualifier, Airi Abe (11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6), prior to booking her semi-final place courtesy of success when facing Hungary’s Szandra Pergel, the no.7 seed (6-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-1, 11-3).
Men’s Doubles
…………Marko Jevtovic and Zsolt Peto, the no.8 seeds, flew the flag for Serbia. They beat Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet, the no.2 seeds (6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-9), prior to recording a semi-final success in opposition to qualifiers, the combination of Hungary’s Bence Majoros and Denmark’s Tobias Rasmussen (11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6). In the final they meet Portugal’s Diogo Carvalho and João Geraldo, also qualifiers and shock penultimate round winners against Hungary’s Nandor Ecseki and Adam Szudi, the top seeds (12-10, 6-11, 11-6, 16-14).
Women’s Doubles
…………The top two seeded pairs advanced to the title deciding contest. At the semi-final stage Hong Kong’s Ng Wing Nam and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the top seeds, beat Spain’s Galia Dvorak and Zhang Sofia-Xuan, the no.4 seeds (11-6, 11-8, 11-7). In the opposite half of the draw Hungary’s Dora Madarasz and Szandra Pergel, the no.2 seeds, accounted for Serbia’s Izabela Lupulesku and Sabina Surjan, the no.8 seeds (11-7, 11-8, 13-15, 14-12)
Under 21 Men’s Singles
…………Leo de Nodrest, the no.12 seed, beat colleague Bastien Rembert, the no.10 seed (11-2, 12-10, 11-4) in an all French final to secure his first such title.
Under 21 Women’s Singles
…………Defence prevailed, Maria Malanina, the no.4 seed, overcame Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing, the no.8 seed (11-5, 11-7, 11-8) to reserve the top step of the podium and thus recorded a landmark success.
