by Ian Marshall, Editor
The top seed she beat Lily Zhang of the United States, the no.2 seed (11-4, 11-2, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8) to retain the title won one year earlier in the same venue.
A contest of the highest quality, the counter top spin rallies breathtaking, a credit to both players; undoubtedly the crucial stage of the contest came in the third game when Lily Zhang saved game point at 10-9, before losing the next two points.
Three games to nil in arrears, Lily Zhang had to climb a mountain; great credit, she fought for the cause but at 10-8 in the sixth game, Adriana Diaz held two match points. She needed just one, Puerto Rico erupted.
Earlier in the day in the penultimate round Adriana Diaz had accounted for Wu Yue, like Lily Zhang from the United States and the no.3 seed (5-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10); Lily Zhang had ended the hopes of Canada’s Zhang Mo, the no.4 seed (12-10, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9). In the bronze medal contest Wu Yue overcame Zhang Mo (9-11, 11-6, 23-21, 11-13, 6-11, 13-11, 11-3).
Power
The women’s followed the men’s title decider, a contest in which Hugo Calderano, the top seed, overpowered his colleague, Gustavo Tsuboi, the no.3 seed (11-3, 11-5, 11-13, 11-3, 11-6).
Impressive from Hugo Calderano, it had been the same in the penultimate round. He accounted for Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre, the no.4 seed (11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6); rather differently for Gustavo Trsuboi it was a quite titanic struggle. Eventually, in a full distance duel, he overcame Kanak Jha of the United States, the no.2 seed (11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 4-11, 11-4, 11-4, 3-11, 11-9).
Disappointment for Kanak Jha but there was consolation; he accounted for Marcelo Aguirre (11-4, 11-6, 11-6, 11-4) to secure third place.
Hugo Calderano and Adriana Diaz now book places in the Liebherr Men’s World Cup and the Women’s World Cup respectivel, both tournaments to be held later in the year in October.
