by Ian Marshall, Editor
Xu Yingbin, crowned Asian junior champion just over a month ago, was the player to cause the biggest upset. In the opening round of the men’s singles event, he ousted Ukraine’s Kou Lei, the no.2 seed (11-8, 3-11, 14-16, 11-8, 14-12, 11-4), prior to reserving his third round place courtesy of success in opposition to Frenchman, Andrea Landrieu (11-5, 11-6, 13-11, 6-11, 11-6).
Similarly, Hiroto Shinosuke caused a first round upset, he beat Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre, the no.3 seed (15-13, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-5), before continuing his advance by overcoming Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen (11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7).
Impressive from Hiroto Shinosuke; it was the same from Samuel Kulczycki, he beat China’s Yu Heyi (8-11, 3-11, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8) to reserve his third round place; Yu Heyi in the opening round having beaten Mexico’s Marcos Madrid, the no.4 seed (11-6, 11-7, 12-14, 5-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6).
Defeats for three celebrated names, for the most celebrated, Panagiotis Gionis of Greece, the top seed, it was success; he accounted for Sweden’s Elias Ranefur (11-6, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6) to secure his third round place.
Surprise defeats
Early exits for major names in the opening two rounds of the men’s singles event, it was no different for the women. Japan’s Saki Shibata, the no.2 seed, experienced a first round reverse at the hands of Norway’s Ma Wenting (11-9, 11-13, 9-11, 11-8, 11-2, 16-18, 11-7), who then suffered at the hands of Korea Republic’s Lee Zion 911-13, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10, 14-12).
Likewise, there was an early departure for Hungary’s Georgina Pota, the no.4 seed; she experienced a second round defeat when opposing Italy’s Deborah Vivarelli (11-6, 11-9, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6).
Surprise outcomes but not for China’s He Zhuojia, the top seed, nor for Japan’s Hina Hayata, the no.3 seed. He Zhuojia booked her third round place by beating Russia’s Mariia Tailakova (12-10, 11-7, 13-11, 11-3), Hina Hayata accounted for Italy’s Li Xiang (11-3, 13-11, 12-10, 11-7).
Imposing from He Zhuojia, it was equally imposing from her colleagues Zhang Qiang and Chen Yi. Zhang Qiang recorded a first round win against Britt Eerland of the Netherlands, the no.7 seed (11-9, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9), before accounting for Audrey Zarif of France (11-7, 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6). Likewise, Chen Yi beat Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.8 seed, prior to ending the progress of Romania’s Adina Diaconu (11-4, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6).
Second seeds fall
Upsets, it was the same in the men’s and women’s doubles events. In the former Poland’s Maciej Kubik and Samuel Kulczycki recorded an opening round win in opposition to Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang and Ng Pak Nam, the no.2 seeds (11-6, 11-8, 12-10); likewise in the women’s doubles the second seeds fell in the opening round. China’s Fan Siqi and Zhang Qiang ousted Korea Republic’s Choi Hyojoo and Lee Zion (10-12, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9).
Problems for the second seeds in the opening round; not for the top seeds. In the men’s doubles Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet opened their account by overcoming Frenchmen Bastien Rembert and Jules Rolland (11-6, 11-7, 12-10); in the women’s doubles, Japan’s Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata overcame Korea Republic’s Sim Hyunju and Yoo Eunchong (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8).
Champions crowned
The early rounds completed, in the under 21 men’s singles and under 21 women’s singles events, the champions were crowned; China emerging the successful nation.
After recording a semi-final success against Chinese Taipei’s Tai Ming-Wei (11-2, 11-5, 11-5), Xiang Peng secured the under 21 men’s singles title at the final expense of Frenchman, Irvin Bertrand (11-6, 13-11, 7-11, 11-1). Similarly, Kuai Man emerged the under 21 women’s singles winner, following success against Sweden’s Filippa Bergand (11-5, 11-4, 15-13), she beat colleague Qi Fei (11-7, 13-11, 11-9) to reserve the top step of the podium.
On Saturday 19th October, the third round and quarter-finals of the men’s and women’s singles events will be completed, the quarter and semi-finals of the men’s and women’s doubles competitions.
