by Ian Marshall
Frenchman Bastien Rembert and Leo de Nodrest duly reserved group pole position in the men’s singles event as did India’s Sanil Shetty but there were defeats Russia’s Aleksandr Tiutriumov, Italy’s Jordy Piccolin and Daniele Pinto, as well as for Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Bu Shulaybi and Slovakia’s Samuel Novota.
The players against whom they experienced defeat all ended the day in group top spot.
Vincent Picard, like Bastien Rembert and Leo de Nodrest from France, beat Aleksandr Tiutriumov (11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8), the Czech Republic’s Tomas Martinko accounted for Jordy Piccolin (8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8).
Likewise, Slovakia’s Adam Klajber overcame Daniele Pinto (11-8, 11-8, 11-8), the host nation’s Radek Skala defeated Abdulaziz Bu Shulaybi (9-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9), the Czech Republic’s Simon Belik defeated Samuel Novota (11-9, 11-9, 11-5).
Surprise first names in top spot; in the men’s singles event there were more.
The Czech Republic’s Tomas Koldas gained first place against the odds as did Ukraine’s Andrii Grebeniuk, Italy’s Carlo Rossi, Hungary’s Bence Csaba, India’s Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Gleb Shamruk of Belarus.
Meanwhile in the group phase of the women’s singles, amongst the top eight names, it was first position for Marie Migot of France, Ukraine’s Solomiya Brayteko, England’s Maria Tsaptsinos and Poland’s Anna Wegrzyn.
Alas, for Sweden’s Christina Källberg, the second highest rated player on qualification duty it was defeat. She was beaten by Ukraine’s Anastasiya Dynytrenko (11-5, 13-15, 11-6, 11-7).
Similarly, Hungary’s Bernadett Balint, the fifth in order, lost to Sweden’s Matilda Hansson (12-14, 13-11, 11-8, 11-7), a fate that also befell the next in the order of merit; Slovakia’s Nikoleta Puchavanova experienced defeat at the hands of Hungary’s Leila Imre (11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9).
Problems for notable names, it was the same for the player who completed the top eight on the list. Konstantini Paridi of Greece was beaten by Luxembourg’s Tessy Gonderinger (11-4, 10-12, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10).
Surprise first places, there were more, contrary to expectations, the Czech Republic’s Marketa Sevcikova and Nikita Petrovova topped their groups, as did Sweden’s Rebecca Muskantor, Slovakia’s Dasa Sinkarova, Germany’s Franziska Shreiner and Darya Kisel of Belarus.
Play in the main draw commences on Moday 23rd August.
