by Ian Marshall, Editor
In the junior girls’ doubles, after recording a semi-final win against Peru’s Alessandra Cisneros and Maria Maldonado (14-12, 11-7, 11-8), Livia Lima and Laura Watanabe accounted for Chile’s Jerusalen Flores and Valentina Rios (11-13, 11-7, 6-11, 11-1, 11-4) to reserve the top step of the podium.
An impressive performance and somewhat national revenge; in the counterpart semi-final, colleagues Giovanna Grilo and Lhays Stolarski had been beaten by Jerusalen Flores and Valentina Rios (11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4).
Gold for Livia Lima in the junior girls’ doubles, it was the same in the junior mixed doubles partnering Diogo Silva. In the title deciding contest, the duo overcame Argentina’s Lautaro Sato and Isabella Fragapane (12-10, 11-9, 11-13, 13-11).
Previously, in the penultimate round Diogo Silva and Livia Lima had beaten Chile’s Eusebio Vos and Valentina Rios (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7); in the adjacent half of the draw Lautaro Sato and Isabella Fragapane had ousted Ecuador’s Neycer Robalino and Alejandra Vientimilla (5-11, 11-8, 15-13, 11-9).
Cadet titles
Titles secured in the junior age group, Brazil excelled in the younger category. Beatrix Kanashiro and Giulia Takahashi secured the cadet girls’ doubles event at the expense of Ecuador. After recording a semi-final win against Keimy Anchundia and Maria Borja (11-3, 11-1, 11-9), they accounted for Genesis Macias and Fiorella Olaya (11-6, 11-7, 11-1) at the final hurdle.
Impressively, in the corresponding semi-final, Genesis Macias and Fiorella Olaya had beaten Peru’s Karla Mendoza and Cecilia Zea Huacan (5-11, 11-5, 11-8, 13-11).
The top step of the podium for Guilia Takahashi, it was the same in the cadet mixed doubles event. Partnering Leonardo Ilzuka, the pair secured the title at the final expense of Chile’s Josthyn Miranda and Fenanda Araneda (11-8, 12-10, 11-6), having in the penultimate round beaten Colombia’s Felipe Fajardo and Juliana Lozada (11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7). In the adjacent semi-final the Chileans had ousted Brazil’s Nicolas Nishimura and Beatrix Kanashiro (11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5).
Elusive titles
Four titles for Brazil; two proved elusive. Argentina’s Matias Guadalupe and Matias Velarde won the junior boys’ doubles event, Peru’s Eduardo Mendoza and Sebastian Zeballos emerged the cadet boys’ doubles champions.
After overcoming Chile’s Eusebio Vos and Jeremias Paredes (11-9, 11-7, 14-12, 11-7), Matias Guadalupe and Matias Velarde accounted for Peru’s Adolfo Cucho and Carlos Fernandez (5-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 13-11) to seal the title. In the counterpart semi-final Adolfo Cucho and Carlos Fernandez had beaten Argentina’s Tomas Sanchi and Lautaro Sato (11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-7).
Meanwhile in the cadet boys’ doubles, the Peruvians ended the aspirations of Ecuador. At the semi-final stage Eduardo Mendoza and Sebastian Zeballos beat Paul Ponce Cedeño and Joseph Vasquez (11-9, 11-5, 12-10), prior to overcoming Jeremy Cedeño and Diego Piguave (14-16, 13-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-8) to seal the top prize. Earlier Jeremy Cedeño and Diego Piguave had beaten Brazil’s Leonardo Ilzuka and Nicolas Nishimura (12-10, 11-9, 11-7).
Play concludes on Sunday 8th March when the winners of the junior boys’ singles and junior girls’ singles events, alongside the cadet boys’ singles and cadet girls’ singles competitions, will be decided.
- Saturday 7th March – Reaction from Lima
- Friday 6th March – Reaction from Lima
- Thursday 5th February – Reaction from Lima
- Wednesday 4th March – Reaction from Lima
