by Ian Marshall, Editor
Favourite for gold, the top seed; in the later rounds, Ivor Ban accounted for Peru’s Carlos Fernandez, the no.7 seed (11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-6), prior to overcoming Spain’s Albert Villadrel, the no.13 seed (11-8, 11-3, 11-9, 14-12) to book his place in the final.
Notably, Albert Villadrel was a player in form; in the second round he had ousted Italy’s John Oyebode, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6), before recording a quarter-final win in opposition to Portugal’s Gonçalo Gomes (9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10).
A place in the final booked, Ivor Ban maintained his good form; he overcame Chile’s Nicolas Burgos, the no.2 seed, in six games to arrest the title (11-9, 9-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-6, 12-10). Earlier at the quarter-final stage, Nicolas Burgos had accounted Spain’s Iker Gonzalez (11-6, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4), prior to overcoming Moldova’s Vladislav Ursu, the no.4 seed (11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10).
Runners up spot
Gold for Ivor Ban, in the junior boys’ doubles event the colour had been silver. Partnering colleague Lovro Zovko, the duo experienced defeat in the final at the hands of the French pairing formed by Denis Dorcescu and Felix Lebrun (11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8).
Earlier in the day at the semi-final stage, Ivor Ban and Lovro Zovko beat Italy’s Tommaso Giovannetti and John Oyebode (11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3); Denis Dorcescu and Felix Lebrun accounted for Spain’s Miguel Nuñez and Arnau Pons (7-11, 11-2, 11-2, 11-8).
Two titles
A successful day for Ivor Ban, it was even more successful for Hana Goda; in addition to emerging the junior girls’ singles champion, she partnered colleague Farida Badawy to junior girls’ doubles success.
Occupying the top seeded position in both events, she secured the junior girls’ singles title at the final expense of Emine Ernst of the Netherlands, the no.3 seed (11-5, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6), having at the quarter-final stage overcome Portugal’s Patricia Santos, the no.14 seed (10-12, 11-4, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9) and in the penultimate round, Veranika Varabyova of Belarus, the no.22 seed (11-4, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5).
Impressive from Hana Goda, in the opposite half of the draw it had been the same from Emine Ernst. In quarter-finals she had beaten the host nation’s Matilde Pinto (11-6, 2-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5) the winner the previous round in opposition to Hungary’s Helga Dari, the no.2 seed (12-14, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8). A notable last eight success, Emine Ernst booked her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Farida Badawy, the no.4 seed (11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9).
Top prize
Disappointment for Farida Badawy but the top prize in harness with Hana Goda.
Following success against the pairing of Spain’s Claudia Canay and Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci (11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3), the duo clinched the junior girls’ doubles title at the final expense of the partnership formed by Hungary’s Helga Dari and Faith Tung of the United States (11-8, 11-5, 11-9).
In the counterpart semi-final, Helga Dari and Faith Tung had beaten England’s Mollie Patterson and Millie Rogove (11-9, 13-11, 2-11, 11-9).
Attention in Guimarães now turns to the team events, the finals of which will be played on Saturday 16th November.
