Chinese Taipei pairs progress
Men’s Doubles: Preliminary Round Three
Main draw places the reward; Chinese Taipei enjoyed notable success.
Huang Chien-Tu and Wang Tsai-Wei beat Frenchmen Andrea Landrieu and Bastien Rembert (11-6, 11-3, 11-5) to reserve their place in the second stage; similarly, Feng Yi-Hsin and Hung Tzu-Hsiang accounted for Hong Kong’s Kwan Man Ho and Li Hon Ming (11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8).
Once again the doubles expert
Men’s Doubles: Preliminary Round Three
Four days earlier partnering colleague, Marko Jevtovic, Serbia’s Zsolt Peto had proved himself most adept in the doubles art; the pair had emerged silver medallists at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Serbia Open.
In Slovenia he endorsed the fact once again; he partnered Dimitrije Levajac to success; the pair beating Spain’s Carlos Franco and Joan Masip (9-11, 12-10, 11-3, 12-10) to secure their main draw place.
Just three remain
Under 21 Women’s Singles: Round Two
Just three of the top eight names safely negotiated the second round.
Japan’s Miyu Nagasaki, the no.1 seed, beat Croatia’s Andrea Pavlovich (11-5, 11-9, 11-6), colleague Yumeno Soma, the no.2 seed, overcame Ukraine’s Solomiya Brateyko (11-3, 11-8, 11-3); India’s Archana Girish Kamath, the no.6 seed, halted the aspirations of the Czech Republic’s Marketa Sevcikova (11-4, 11-7, 11-6).
Shocks continue
Under 21 Women’s Singles: Round Two
Surprises continued as play progressed in the lower half of the draw. Japan’s Haruna Ojio, the no.25 seed, beat Belgium’s Lisa Lung, the no.3 seed (11-7, 11-9, 13-11); Russia’s Anastasia Kolish, the no.26 seed, overcame Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, the no.5 seed (11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-13, 11-9) and top seed in the women’s singles event,
Also, Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Yu-Chin, the no.35 seed, overcame Audrey Zarif of France, the no.7 seed (11-9, 11-8, 11-7); Hungary’s Orsolya Feher, the no.23 seed, ended the hopes of India’s Selena Selvakumar, the no.12 seed (11-4, 11-6, 13-11).
Shocks abound
Under 21 Women’s Singles: Round Two
Shocks abounded as play commenced in the second round. Belgium’s Margo Degraef, the no.30 seed, beat Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, the no.10 seed (11-8, 11-9, 11-8), India’s Sreeja Akula, the no.28 seed, ousted Austria’s Karoline Mischek, the no.13 seed (14-12, 11-7, 11-6).
Similarly, Spain’s Ana Garcia overcame Russia’s Mariia Tailakova, the no.8 seed (11-5, 14-12, 8-11, 11-9), Serbia’s Tijana Jokic, the no.46 seed, defeated Maria Migot of France, the no.9 seed (13-11, 11-4, 11-9).
Wins against the odds, Hong Kong was not left out; Zhang Wenling, the no.32 seed, ousted Slovakia’s Tatiana Kukulkova (11-5, 11-5, 11-5), Mak Tze Wing, the no.27 seed, ended the hopes of Russia’s Valeria Shcherbatykh, the no.4 seed (12-14, 11-9, 13-11, 11-3).
Ana Garcia caused a major upset by beating Mariia Tailakova (Photo: Danilo Kesic)
Imposing, Russians in control
Men’s Singles: Preliminary Round
Russia’s Aleksandr Tiutriumov and Viachaslev Burov provided most impressive performances in their quest to book main draw places.
In straight games Aleksandr Tiutriumov beat England’s Andrew Baggaley (11-6, 11-8, 11-4, 11-4); with just the loss of one game Viachaslev Burov ended the hopes of Spain’s Carlos Caballero (11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5).
France in seven games
Men’s Singles: Preliminary Round
Maintaining focus, Frenchmen Stéphane Ouaiche and Bastien Rembert both prevailed in full distance seven games duels.
Stéphane Ouaiche beat Belgium’s Laurens Devos (11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-13, 11-2), Bastien Rembert overcame Slovakia’s Alexander Valuch (11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11).
Hong Kong pair progress
Women’s Doubles: Preliminary Round Three
Liu Qi and Mak Tze Wing alongside Hong Kong colleagues Li Ching Wan and Zhu Chengzhu booked main draw places.
Extended the full five games distance, Liu Qi and Mak Tze Wing beat Croatia’s Klara Cakol and Ivana Tubikanec (8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 13-11); rather more comfortably Li Ching Wan and Zhu Chengzhu ended the hopes of the French partnership comprising Pauline Chasselin and Stéphanie Loeuillette (11-6, 11-6, 12-10).
Minimal margins
Women’s Doubles: Preliminary Round Three
Places in the main draw at stake; there were close calls at the decisive round began; decisions by the minimal two point margin.
The combination of Norway’s Ma Wenting and Poland’s Magdalena Sikorska beat Russia’s Yana Noskova and Olga Vorobeva (14-16, 5-11, 12-10, 12-10, 12-10); the French pairing of Laura Pfefer and Audrey Zarif overcame India’s Archana Girish Kamath and Ayhina Mukherjee (11-7, 9-11, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9). Meanwhile, the latter duo’s colleagues ended the hopes of Belgium’s Margo Degraef and Lisa Lung (9-11, 13-11, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10).
Meanwhile, in the lower half of the draw, it was success in a similar manner for Russia’s Valeria Shcherbatykh and Mariia Tailakova; eventually, they overcame Chinese Taipei’s Huang Hsin and Huang Yu-Chiao (11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9).
French pairs impress
Men’s Doubles: Preliminary Round Two
Frenchman Leo de Nodrest and Jules Rolland emerged successful as did colleagues, Andrea Landrieu and Bastien Rembert.
Leo de Nodrest and Jules Rolland beat Serbia’s Lorencio Lupulesku and Nicola Strugarevic in a most imposing manner (11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-1).
“The first game we started well, we were ahead 9-7 but we didn’t take advantage of the situation. We lost the first and second games. The third set went as planned but unfortunately they dominated in the last game. The French had serves that we could not return and everything from there just fell apart. For me the tournament is preparation for the Slovenian National League finals that are coming soon. I am currently playing for a Slovenian team, NTK Krka Novo Mesto.” Lorencio Lupulesku
Equally impressive, Andrea Landrieu and Bastien Rembert accounted for Switzerland’s Dorian Girod and Lars Posh (12-10, 11-5, 11-8).
Differing fortunes from Russia
Men’s Doubles: Preliminary Round Two
Full distance five games contests; for Viachaslev Burov and Sadi Ismailov it was success; for Russian colleagues Anton Kotov and Aleksandr Tiutriumov it was agony.
Viachaslev Burov and Sadi Ismailov beat Sweden’s Simon Berglund and Truls Moregard (11-7, 10-12, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7); Anton Kotov and Aleksandr Tiutriumov experienced defeat at the hands of the combination formed by Kazakhstan’s Aidos Kenzhigulov and Austria’s David Serdaroglu (10-12, 14-12, 11-5, 6-11, 15-13).
French pairs progress
Women’s Doubles: Preliminary Round Two
Three pairs from French pairs on duty, three pairs successful but for one life was on the proverbial knife-edge.
Laura Pfefer and Audrey Zarif came within a whisker of defeat; they needed the full five games to secure victory, eventually overcoming Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi and Jessica Yamada by the very narrowest of margins (11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 10-12, 13-11). Meanwhile for their colleagues, life was less dramatic. Pauline Chasselin and Stéphanie Loeuillette beat Japan’s Haruna Ojio and Yumena Soma (11-3, 11-6, 11-8); Oceane Guisnel and Marie Migot received a walk-over against Filippa Bergand and Alma Roose, injury forcing the Swedes to withdraw.
Success for India but close
Women’s Doubles: Preliminary Round Two
India’s Archana Girish Kamath and Ayhika Mukherjee alongside colleagues Sutirtha Mukherjee and Madhurika Patkar both emerged successful but only just; both pairs needed the full five games to secure victory.
Eventually, Archana Girish Kamath and Ayhika Mukherjee overcame Croatia’s Ida Jazbec and Dorina Srebrnjak (15-13, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-2); similarly Sutirtha Mukherjee and Madhurika Patkar accounted for England’s Emily Bolton and Maria Tsaptsinos in an even closer contest (11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9).
French teenagers secure first places
Men’s Singles: Group Stage
Both 18 years old, Bastien Rembert and Leo de Nodrest secured first places as play in the group phase came to a conclusion.
Bastien Rembert, ranked no.324 caused an upset by beating Iran’s Miad Lotfijanabadi, ranked no.324 (12-10, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8); Le de Nodrest halted the ambitions of Japan’s Kenta Tazoe (9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5). On the most recent rankings, Leo de Nodrest is at no.280, Kentsa Tazoe at no.362.
Upsetting the order
Men’s Singles: Group Stage
Places in the preliminary round the prize, England’s Andrew Baggaley, Belgium’s Laurens Devos and Spain’s Carlos Caballero all upset the order of merit to secure first places in the respective groups.
Listed at no.398 on the present day world rankings, Andrew Baggaley beat Carlos Franco, like Carlos Caballero from Spain and rated at no.293 (11-5, 11-7, 11-7). Ranked no.365, Laurens Devos accounted for Nicolas Tio of the United States, named at no.222 (11-7, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9). Meanwhile, Carlos Caballero ended the aspirations of Saudi Arabia’s Ali Alkhadrawi (11-9, 11-6, 11-7). On the men’s world rankings, Ali Alkhadrawi is named at no.222, Carlos Caballero at no.365.
No birthday present for Ioannis Sgouropoulos
Men’s Singles: Group Stage
A 19th birthday celebrated one day earlier, there were no belated presents for Ioannis Sgouropoulos of Greece. Listed at no.256 on the current men’s world rankings, he was beaten by Croatia’s Wei Shihao, named at no.433. He suffered in straight games (11-5, 11-7, 11-6).
“During the match I was lucky. My opponent was Ioannis Sgouropolos from Greece and is highly ranked but he could not get his game together; because of that I won 3-0. I did not have any difficulties during the match and I am pleased with my game.” Wei Shihao
Tomislav Kolarek and Jules Rolland upset odds
Men’s Singles: Group Stage
Croatia’s Tomislav Kolarek and Frenchman Jules Rolland seized the opportunity. Both caused upsets to conclude their group phase matches unbeaten and reserve main draw places.
Listed at no.655 on the current men’s world rankings, Tomislav Kolarek beat Germany’s Gerritt Engemann, named at no.205 (11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5); similarly, ranked no.447 in the battle of the generations, Jules Rolland, 18 years old, overcame Serbia’s 31 years of age, Zsolt Peto, listed at no.180 (11-4, 11-9, 11-6).
Russians tested
Men’s Singles: Group Stage
Favourites to secure first places in their respective groups, Russia’s Vladimir Sidorenko and Sadi Ismail duly obliged but in their concluding contests they experienced testing times.
Vladimir Sidorenko beat the host nation’s Tilen Cvetko by the very narrowest of margins (11-6, 11-13, 10-12, 11-6, 13-11); in a slightly less dramatic decider, Sadi Ismailov accounted for Germany’s Qiu Lang (11-6, 11-5, 6-11, 9-11, 11-6).
Narrow margins secure first places
Men’s Singles: Group Stage
The highest ranked players in their particular groups but in order to secure first places and thus progress to the main draw there were close calls for Thailand’s Padasak Tanviriyavechakul, Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez and Luxembourg’s Eric Glod.
Eventually, Padasak Tanviriyavechakul beat Tian Ye of the United States (7-11, 15-13, 11-7, 12-14, 11-9), Daniel Gonzalez overcame Austria’s Christian Fredrich (9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7); Eric Glod ended the hopes of Slovenia’s Uros Slatinsek (3-11, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8).
Andrei Putuntica causes early upset
Men’s Singles: Group Stage
Listed at a no.535 on the current men’s world rankings, Moldova’s Andrei Putuntica caused an early upset as play began in the third series of matches. The 20 year old accounted for India’s Amalraj Anthony, listed at no.122 and the third highest rated player in the qualification tournament.
It was close, Andrei Putuntica emerged successful by the minimal two point margin in the fifth game (7-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10).
Disappointment for Pan American players
Women’s Singles: Group Stage
Brazil’s Jessica Yamada, Peru’s Francesca Vargas and Chile’s Judith Morales all experienced defeat in the final round of group fixtures with Orsolya Feher (13-11, 11-9, 11-3), Nina Zupancic (11-4, 11-2, 12-10) and Christina Källberg (11-6, 11-8, 11-5) holding the upper hand in the respective encounters.
The news was just as unfortunate for Canada’s Alicia Cote, who lost out to Japan’s Haruna Ojio by a convincing 3-0 score-line (11-0, 11-3, 11-2).
Late comeback bid denied
Women’s Singles: Group Stage
Mak Tze Wing has topped Group 16 but only just: Making the perfect start to her closing group match the Hong Kong representative moved two games ahead only for her Norwegian opponent Ma Wenting to recover two games of her own to force a decider.
However, a comeback win was prevented as Mak Tze Wing went on to prevail by the narrowest of margins (11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9).
Olga Kim sends Uzbekistan through
Women’s Singles: Group Stage
Victorious in her opening group encounter, Uzbekistan’s Olga Kim has reserved her place in round one of the women’s singles event following a narrow win across five games against the top ranked player in Group 3, Belgium’s Lisa Lung (7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9).
Host nation duo flying the flag
Under 21 Men’s Singles: Round One
Slovenia will have two representatives in the second round of the draw: recovering from a game down Erik Paulin successfully fought back to beat Italy’s Gabriele Piciulin 3-1 (9-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-9) while Peter Hribar accounted for Serbia’s Dimitrije Levajac (11-6, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7).
“The key to winning the game was smart tactics. My serves were good and I played very calm and focused, which brought me the game.” Erik Paulin
“The second set was crucial to win, as he was leading 10-6, so I focused and with a steady game won the match with an end result of 3-1. In the last set with the score 8-2 in my favour I lost some concentration and with it three points, but eventually I saved the game…” Peter Hribar
Third seed shows his class
Under 21 Men’s Singles: Round One
Seeded third for the competition Russia’s Vladimir Sidorenko has secured his spot in round two after posting a commanding 3-0 victory over Welsh counterpart Callum Evans (11-5, 11-8, 11-6).
There was positive news for another Russian in action as Aleksandr Tiutriumov prevailed in a tight fixture against the host nation’s Damjan Zelko (15-13, 10-12, 11-5, 2-11, 11-2).
Iranian stars squeeze through
Under 21 Men’s Singles: Round One
Amin Ahmadian and Amir Hossein Hodaei have both negotiated their opening round encounters but the task proved to be a difficult one with the Iranian competitors being pushed right down to the wire by Indian no.7 seed Ronit Bhanja (11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7) and Croatia’s Luka Martinek (11-5, 13-11, 5-11, 8-11, 11-3).
Qualification continues
The second day of qualification at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Slovenia Open is here – take a detailed look at the day’s schedule below:
