by Ian Marshall, Editor
Notably, the previous day they had met in the group stage of proceedings, Adrian Rubiños beating Henrique Noguti (11-8, 11-5, 11-5) to secure first place.
Both safely through to the main draw, Adrian Rubiños, the no.21 seed, caused the biggest upset of the day. He beat colleague Matias Pedraza, the no.4 seed (11-9, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4), prior to ousting Brazil’s Shim Joon, the no.9 seed (11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8) to reserve his last eight place.
Good form from Adrian Rubiños, it was the same from Henrique Noguti; in the opening round he overcame Ecuador’s Mathias Lecaro, the no.7 seed (11-6, 13-11, 11-8, 11-9), before ending the hopes of Argentina’s Luciano Jang (11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6).
Two surprise quarter-finalists, to a lesser extent there was one more. Costa Rica’s Alfredo Sanchez, the no.12 seed, reserved his last eight place courtesy of success against Brazil’s Rafael Nagamine (11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9), Argentina’s Lautaro Sato (11-6, 11-5, 11-3, 11-4) and Peru’s Emiliano Chambi (11-2, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8).
Unexpected quarter-finalists, the remaining five places were as expected. Peru’s Carlos Fernandez and Adolfo Cucho progressed as did Brazil’s Kenzo Carmo alongside Matias Guadalupe and Matias Velarde.
Narrow margins
Three rounds conducted in the junior boys’ singles; in the counterpart junior girls’ singles competition, just the first round was completed. Moreover, there were notable upsets, decisions by the very narrowest of margins being the outcome.
Ecuador’s Mylena Plaza, the no.5 seed, lost to Chile’s Constanza Mesas (10-12, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10), in an equally close duel Peru’s Alessandra Cisneros, the no.8 seed, experienced defeat at the hands of Brazil’s Strassburger (8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 15-13).
Otherwise, the most prominent names negotiated the first hurdle. Brazil’s Laura Watanabe, Giulia Takahashi and Livia Lima all emerged successful as did Chile’s Jerusalen Flores, Miriam Ruiz and Macarena Montecino.
Similarly, in the cadet boys’ singles, only the opening round has been completed; amongst the leading names Ecuador’s Diego Piguave and Jeremy Cedeño advanced as did Colombia’s Felipe Fajardo, Chile’s Josthyn Miranda and Peru’s Rodrigo Vigo.
Conversely, there were unexpected first round exits for Chile’s Jaime Lama, the no.5 seed, Peru’s Juan Luna, the no.7 seed and Ecuador’s Paul Ponce, the no.8 seed. Jaime Lama lost to Colombia’s Felipe Fajardo (11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5). In a contest that could hardly have been closer Juan Luna was beaten by Brazil’s Rafael Takahashi (7-11, 11-8, 11-2, 8-11, 18-16); Paul Ponce suffered at the hands of Argentina’s Gaston Tresca (12-14, 11-8, 11-6, 12-10).
Differing fortunes for Chile
Upsets but it was as play progressed to the quarter-final stage of the cadet girls’ singles that the most unexpected names to reach the last eight were witnessed; Chile experiencing the greatest disappointments.
In the opening round Martina Montecino, the no.7 seed, lost to Argentina’s Abril Okuyama (12-10, 11-9, 11-5), who in the very next round was beaten by Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi, the top seed (11-8, 11-2, 11-7).
Likewise in round two, Sofia Perez, the no.4 seed, who the previous day had finished in second place in her initial stage group, suffered against Colombia’s Julia Lozado, the no.3 seed (11-4, 11-4, 11-6).
Second round defeats for highly rated names; it was the same for Romina Barrientos, the no.6 seed, she was beaten by Argentina’s Manuela Pereyra (11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7). Earlier than expected exits for three Chileans, it was the same for Ecuador’s Maria Borja; in the second round she departed at the hands of Brazil’s Karina Shiray (9-11, 12-10, 15-13, 11-4).
Troubled times for Chile but there was notable success, Constanza Mesas, the no.8 seed, duly progressed as did Fernanda Araneda, the no.2 seed, alongside Giulia Takahashi and Juliana Lozado.
Semi-finalists known
Places in the last eight determined; in the mini-cadet boys’ and mini-cadet girls’ singles the semi-finalists are known.
In the former Brazil is very much to the fore, Augusto Andrade meets the Dominican Republic’s Rafael Cabrera, Kenzo Yamada opposes Peru’s Gonzalo Vera. In the latter Ecuador is prominent. Maria Borja plays Brazil’s Karina Shiray, Keimy Anchundia confronts Peru’s Alessia Colfer.
One step further, in the doubles events the finalists are known. In the junior boys’ doubles Adolfo Cucho and Carlos Fernandez face Matias Guadalupe and Matias Velarde; in the junior girls’ doubles Giulia Takahashi and Laura Watanabe oppose Argentina’s Divina Ding and Valentina Parola.
Meanwhile in the cadet boys’ doubles, in an all Ecuadorian final Jeremy Cedeño and Diego Piguave meet Paul Ponce and Joseph Vasquez; in the cadet girls’ doubles, the host nation’s Karla Mendoza and Cecilia Zea face Chile’s Fernanda Araneda and Constanza Mesas.
Play in Lima concludes on Saturday 14th March.
