by Ian Marshall, Editor
A total of 40 groups in the men’s singles, overall 29 in the women’s singles, the Sportni Centre was a sea of action.
Men’s Singles
…………Italy’s Carlo Rossi emerged the only player to book his place in the main draw. He beat Slovakia’s Tibor Spanik (11-7. 5-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5) and Denmark’s Tobias Rasmussen (11-6, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5) to secure top spot in the group.
…………Amongst the leading names, Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez experienced the closest call. He resisted a brave recovery by Croatia’s Filip Zeljko, succeeding by the narrowest of margins (11-8, 13-11, 5-11, 4-11, 11-9).
…………England’s Tom Jarvis was a major casualty; the leading name in his group, he was beaten by Romania’s Alexandru Manole, (11-8, 11-8, 11-6).
Women’s Singles
………… India’s Sutirtha Mukherjee and Krittwika Roy, the third highest rated players in their groups remained unbeaten to book main draw places.
………… Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Chiao and Huang Yi-Hua, commenced the day the lowest ranked players in their respective groups; they remained unbeaten, topped their groups and advanced to the next stage.
………… Only 15 years old, Japan’s Honomi Nakamori caused the biggest upset to date; she concluded her group stage matches by overcoming Romania’s Adina Diaconu, the runner up earlier in the year in Spain (11-7, 11-13, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9) to secure first place in the group.
Under 21 Women’s Singles
………… Runner up the previous week in Belgrade, Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing made a successful start; she beat Canada’s Alicia Cote (11-6, 11-6, 11-6).
Men’s Doubles
………… San Marino proved most competitive. In the opening preliminary round Mattia Berardi and Mattias Mongusti lost narrowly to Serbia’s Lorenco Lupulesku and Nikola Strugarevic (11-9, 8-11, 4-11, 11-2, 12-10). Conversely, Federico Giardi and Lorenzo Ragni accounted for the combination of England’s Matthew Daish and Norway’s Adam Wetzel (7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8).
Women’s Doubles
………… Disappointment for the hosts; in the opening preliminary round, Tjasa Novak and Lara Opeka lost to the combination of Argentine’s Camila Arguelles and Ecuador’s Nathaly (11-7, 11-7, 11-9), Lea Paulin and Ana Tofant suffered at the hands of Japan’s Haruna Ojio and Yumena Soma
