by Ian Marshall, Editor
All the leading names on duty in the opening phase of play, Jocefina Haagensen beat Emine Ernst of the Netherlands, the no.4 seed (11-5, 11-6, 11-2), Ana Pedregosa accounted for Chile’s Mariam Ruiz, the no.7 seed (11-13, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9); likewise Luisa Pintos prevailed against Portugal’s Joana Lopes (11-9, 11-5, 11-6).
Jocefina Haagensen, Ana Pedregosa and Luisa Pintos duly remained unbeaten to top the group; Emine Ernst and Joana Lopes finished in second positions and thus advanced to the main draw. Alas for Miriam Ruiz it was third place and thus farewell.
Biggest surprise
Surprise first places but the biggest top spot surprise was in the initial stage of the junior girls’ singles event achieved by Romania’s Patricia Ianau. In her opening contest she beat Portugal’s Bruna Marcelino in straight games (11-8, 11-3, 11-6) but on her next visit to the table lost to Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci, the no.3 seed, in four games (11-2, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4).
However, in the first match in the group, Fadwa Garci had experienced a five games reverse when confronting Bruna Marcelino (6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4). Thus games ratio determined the outcome; it was first place for Patricia Ianau (4:3) followed by Fadwa Garci (5:4) and Bruna Marcelino (3-5).
Further unexpected first positions
An unexpected first place for Patricia Ianau; lower down the order it was the same for Portugal’s Matide Pinto and Patricia Santos. Notably, Matilde Pinto beat Chile’s Natasha Ruiz, the no.12 seed (11-4, 13-11, 11-4); Patricia Santos overcame Dobrila Jorgueseska of the Netherlands, the no.14 seed (11-6, 11-6, 11-8). Dobrila Jorgueseska duly finished in second position and thus advanced to the main draw, for Natasha Ruiz it was fourth place and farewell.
Surprise outcomes but at the very top of the list there was no surprise at all; Egypt’s Hana Goda and Hungary’s Helga Dari both ended the day without defeat at the head of the order.
Recorded first round wins
Meanwhile, in the junior boys’ singles, the top 16 names were not required to compete in the group stage; Miguel Angel Pantoja and Joshua Weatherby emerged the players to underline their quality. Both finished in first positions in their respective groups prior recording first round wins.
Joshua Weatherby beat Portugal’s José Magalhaes the highest rated player in his group (11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6); likewise Miguel Angel Pantoja overcame Ethan Walsh, like Joshua Weatherby from England (11-7, 11-9, 11-7). Success in the group stage, in the opening round, Miguel Angel Pantoja beat Portugal’s Guilherme Paulo (11-6, 11-4, 16-14, 11-5); Joshua Weatherby ended the hopes of Puerto Rico’s Jadriel Villanueva (10-12, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-1, 11-9).
Leading names in doubles action
The leading names, Croatia’s Ivor Ban, Chile’s Nicolas Burgos, Italy’s John Oyebode and Moldova’s Vladislav Ursu commence their quest for honours in round two on the second day of play.
However, they were involved on the opening day as play proceeded to the semi-final stage of the junior boys’ doubles event. In the penultimate round Ivor Ban and colleague Lovro Zovko meet John Oyebode and compatriot Tommaso Giovanetti; Spain’s Miguel Nuñez and Arnau Pons face the French pairing of Denis Dorcescu and Felix Lebrun.
Highly rated names through to the junior boys’ doubles semi-finals; it is the same in the junior girls’ doubles event. Hana Goda and Farida Badawy face Fadwa Garci and Spain’s Claudia Canay; England’s Mollie Patterson and Millie Rogove confront Helga Dari and Faith Tung of the United States.
Play in the junior boys’ singles, junior girls’ singles, junior boys’ doubles and junior girls’ doubles events concludes on Thursday 14th November.
