by Ian Marshall, Editor
Jean Parra secured his quarter-final place courtesy of success against Peru’s Renzo Zeballos (11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5), the player who had caused a major opening round upset by beating Canada’s Alexander Bu, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5).
A hard fought second round success for Jean Parra but it did not compare with the win recorded by Juan Luna Nuñez; he prevailed by the very narrowest of seven game margins against Ved Smith of the United States (13-11, 9-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 2-11, 14-12).
Notable performances but arguably the most notable second round effort was the success recorded by Jayden Zhou; he ended the hopes of Sweden’s Alve Sjoeveld, the no.4 seed (11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-7). Similarly, in round two both Rogelio Castro and Matias Pedraza upset the seeding; Rogelio Castro accounted for Sid Naresh of the United States, the no.6 seed (3-11, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 11-13, 11-7, 11-8), Matias Pedroza overcame the Dominican Republic’s Pedro Cabrera, the no.8 seed (11-9, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5).
Five unexpected quarter-finalists; the remaining three places were as anticipated; Canada’s Terence Yeung, the top seed, beat Ecuador’s Jeremy Cedeño (6-11, 11-13, 13-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4) to reserve his place. In a similar manner, Kai Zarehbin of the United States, the no.2 seed, ousted Canada’s Edison Huang (11-8, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 2-11, 11-7). Notably, the latter’s colleague David Xu redressed the balance, the no.5 seed, he overcame Nanden Naresh, like Kai Zarehbin, also from the United States (11-4, 13-11, 11-3, 7-11, 3-11, 12-10).
Leading names prevail
Problems for leading names in the junior boys’ singles event; it was not so in the counterpart junior girls’ singles, the top four seeds, all progressed safely to the quarter-final round.
Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero, the top seed and colleague Hidalynn Zapata, alongside the host nation’s Keren Constanza, the no.3 seed and Monica Mendoza, the no.4 seed, all ended Chilean hopes as they reserved quarter-final positions. Lucia Cordero beat Catalina Zuniga (11-5, 11-3, 11-5, 11-5), Hidalynn Zapata accounted for Fernanda Arenada (11-13, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7); similarly, Keren Constanza overcame Sofia Perez (13-11, 6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-4), Monica Mendoza ended the hopes of Natasha Ruiz (11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6).
Unexpected quarter-final names
Surprises, it was no different in the cadet boys’ singles event; Guatemala’s Diego de la Cruz and Nanden Naresh caused the upsets as the quarter-finalists were decided. Diego de la Cruz beat Mexico’s Rogelio Castro, the no.2 seed (8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8). In an even more imposing manner, Nandan Naresh defeated Ecuador’s Diego Piguave (11-6, 11-2, 11-8).
Success against the odds for Nandan Naresh, for Sid Naresh as for Alve Sjoeveld, it was second round success as predicted. Sid Naresh, the no.3 seed, overcame Sweden’s Alwin Castro (11-6, 11-5, 12-10), Alve Sjoeveld, the top seed, beat Chile’s Jaime Lama (11-4, 11-9, 11-7).
Back to winning ways
Meanwhile, in the cadet girls’ singles event, Chile’s Sofia Perez, the leading name, reserved her last eight place by overcoming Sweden’s Amelia Sirous Gunnarsson (11-13, 11-8, 14-12, 11-9).
In a similar manner, El Salvador’s Cristina Machado, the no.3 seed, who had finished in second place in her initial stage group, redeemed herself, she beat Chile’s Fernanda Araneda, the no.4 seed (14-16, 11-6, 11-8, 15-13). Peru’s Alejandra Prieto, the no.2 seed, had withdrawn from proceedings the previous day.
Champions crowned
Quarter-finalists decided, in the doubles events the champions were crowned.
Sid Naresh and Jayden Zhou combined to win the junior boys’ doubles title beating Ecuador’s Mathias Lecaro and Neycer Robalino in the final (11-3, 11-8, 11-5); runners up spot for Ecuador, it was the same in the cadet boys’ doubles. Jeremy Cedeño and Diego Piguave experienced defeat at the hands of Rogelio Castro and Diego de la Cruz (8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9).
A second title for Rogelio Castro and Diego de la Cruz, the cadet boys’ team winners earlier in the week; it was the same for Lucia Cordero and Hidalynn Zapata, the junior girls’ team champions. They won the junior girls’ doubles event accounting for Chile’s Mariam Ruiz and Natasha Ruiz (11-6, 11-7, 11-7) in the final.
Gold for visitors to El Salvador, there was also gold for the hosts; Victoria Guevara and Cristina Machado secured the cadet girls’ doubles to top prize, at the final hurdle they overcame Chile’s Fernanda Arenda and Romina Barrientos (13-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-6).
Play in El Salvador concludes on Sunday 18th August.
