by Ian Marshall, Editor
Competing in women’s singles class 6-10, after accounting for the Czech Republic’s Nela Kemlinkova (11-6, 11-7, 11-7), she accounted for Norway’s Aida Dahlen, the no.2 seed 12-10, 13-11, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10) crowned European champion in 2015 in Vejle and 2017 in Lasko.
Top spot in the group for Ioana-Monica Tepelea, no further defeats for Aida Dahlen; thus, progress to the semi-finals secured. Ioana-Monica Tepelea faces colleague Gabriela Constantin, Aida Dahlen opposes Hungarian top seed, Alexa Szvitacs.
Likewise, in the women’s events, there was an upset in class 11, the host nation’s Denisa Macurova, the no.2 seed, experienced defeat at the hands of Sumeyra Turk (11-4, 11-6, 16-18, 12-10).
Similar to Aida Dahlen, it was second place in the group and progress to the penultimate round where the odds are very much in favour of Turkey, with the country providing three of the last four. Sumeyra Turk faces Sumeyye Senturk, Ebru Acer, the top seed opposes Denisa Macurova.
Positive starts for leading names, in the women’s events it was the same in class 2-5 for both Serbia’s Zorica Popadic and Chile’s Tamara Leonelli.
Surprise outcomes in the women’s singles, in the counterpart men’s singles, it was somewhat similar.
In class 4-5, the host nation’s Jiri Zak, the no.2 seed, was beaten by Chile’s Maximiliano Rodriguez (11-9, 11-7, 5-11, 12-10) and now opposes, Cristian Gonzalez, also from Chile and the top seed, in the penultimate round. In the opposite half of the draw Norway’s Sebastian Vegsund meets Maximiliano Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, in class 7, Germany’s Björn Schnake, the no.2 seed, lost to Slovakia’s Tomas Valech (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9), while Spain’s Jordi Morales, the top seed, ended the day unbeaten. A good day for Spain, in class 6, likewise Alvaro Valera made a successful start.
There was also good news for Chile in class 1-2 as Luis Bustamente topped his group, as did Hungary’s Andras Csonka in class 8, Belgium’s Laurens Devos in class 9-10 and Hungary’s Peter Palos in class 11.
Not to be upstaged, in a group organised class 3 competition, Serbia’s Mladen Ciric ended the day unbeaten.
Play in the individual events concludes on Friday 2nd July.
