One-way traffic

Three matches to bring the day’s proceedings to a close and all three produced convincing victories: Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu and Bernadette Szocs, Italy’s Niagol Stoyanov and Giorgia Piccolin, and France’s Tristan Flore and Laura Gasnier negotiated the three ties without dropping a game between them.

United States pair hold on

Kai Zhang and Lily Zhang experienced what proved to be a most tricky opening fixture in the mixed doubles qualification race, being pushed right down to the deciding game by Swiss opponents Lionel Weber and Rachel Moret (11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 6-11, 14-12).

The only other win from the Americas came from Brazil’s Vitor Ishiy and Bruna Takahashi, who saw off the Romanian pair of Cristian Pletea and Elizabeta Samara in four games (11-6, 11-5, 3-11, 11-9).

Shock of the day?

We’ve seen a number of major upsets on the opening day of play here in Magdeburg – which one standout above the rest for you?

Commanding display sees Quadri Aruna through

One of the African continent’s biggest names, it didn’t take long for Quadri Aruna to book his spot in the next round of qualifying as the Nigerian star powered past Hunor Szocs in just under 26 minutes (11-8, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7)!

Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh also picked up a victory in the 7.15pm session, beating Alexander Chen 4-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8). However, Ibrahima Diaw couldn’t make it three wins from three for Africa as the Senegalese athlete narrowly lost out to Benedek Olah (6-11, 6-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-5).

Walther and Steger progress

A couple of positive results for the local spectators to enjoy as Ricardo Walther and Bastian Steger come good in their respective fixtures against Joao Geraldo (11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3) and Marcelo Aguirre (15-13, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4).

There was also a thrilling contest played out on table 1 as China’s Zhao Qihao held off a brave effort from French counterpart Abdel-Kader Salifou (5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 11-13, 11-6).

Niagol Stoyanov crushes 2015 World Championships runner-up

The upsets continue to fly in here in Magdeburg with another Giant slaying in preliminary round 2 of the men’s singles event. 2015 World Championships silver medallist Fang Bo has just been outclassed on table 1 with Italy’s Niagol Stoyanov claiming one of the biggest wins of his career to date (11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 12-10).

Stoyanov isn’t the only Italian celebrating with Leonardo Mutti also emerging successful in his encounter against Eric Jouti (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9).

Vladi suffers early exit

Leading after games one and three but Belarusian legend Vladimir Samsonov’s German Open campaign has been brought to a premature end, losing out to China’s Xu Chenhao 4-2 (5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7).

Stefan Fegerl was another big European competitor to fall in the 4.45pm session with Korea Republic’s Park Ganghyeon proving too strong for the Austrian on this occasion (11-8, 13-11, 11-8, 11-9).

French star rises to the occasion

Another big shock to report and this time it has come courtesy of World no.277 Alexandre Cassin. The 21-year-old Frenchman produced some of his best table tennis to beat Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An, ranked 49th, across six games (11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8).

Elsewhere, there were big scares for Sweden’s Jon Persson and Egypt’s Omar Assar with both players requiring the full-match distance to see off Rares Sipos (11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9) and Hwang Minha (6-11, 11-7, 3-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7).

Wong Chun Ting crashes out!!!

Denmark’s Zhai Yujia has just contributed one of the shocks of the day after successfully overcoming an early deficit to eliminate Hong Kong, China’s Wong Chun Ting out of the race in Magdeburg (7-11, 11-4, 13-11, 3-11, 11-4, 11-7).

A disappointing exit for Wong and Hong Kong, China’s woes were further deepened in the 3.05pm session of play as Greece’s Ioannis Sgouropoulos and England’s Samuel Walker condemned Ho Kwan Kit (9-11, 7-11, 15-13, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9) and Li Hon Ming (11-8, 11-7, 11-5, 11-3) to the same fate.

Choi proceeds in style

Korea Republic fans had something to cheer for as Choi Hyojoo cruised past Argentine Candela Molero (11-1, 11-6, 11-8, 16-14), shortly after Choi’s compatriot Shin had crashed out.

For the home crowd, Shan Xiaona was in the clear as well after she beat another Argentine Camila Arguelles in straight games (11-2, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5), in all but less than 19 minutes.

Bruna starts strong, Shin exits

Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi showed her speedy play here in GETEC-Arena, as she won in straight games against Serbia’s Tijana Jokic (11-7, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6).

However, the story of the session was France’s Yuan Jia Nan’s amazing win over Korea Republic’s prodigy Shin Yubin! Yuan was all over the table, and had every answer to Shin’s incredible forehands. Winning 4-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7), this is surely the first upset of the German Open!

Amy makes a major dent

USA’s Amy Wang has clearly sent ripples in Germany, as she beat the Portuguese veteran Yu Fu, fresh from the World Team Qualification in Gondomar, shortly after being 0-2 down! Winning 4-2 (3-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6), Wang was effervescent in her style of play, giving Yu no room to work with.

China’s Qian Tianyi meanwhile, coasted against Thailand’s Jinnipa Sawettabut, winning 4-0 (11-2, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7).

Manika Batra raises the roof!

When India’s Manika Batra found herself 2-3 down to Serbia’s Andrea Todorovic, little did anyone think she’d make the next round. Well, think again.

Saving the match point at a critical stage, Batra roared to a 4-3 (11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9) win over the Serbian, displaying her immaculate class and powerful shot making.

Good start for Asian athletes

Yu Mengyu from Singapore and Ng Wing Nam  from Hong Kong China have started very strongly, winning against Germany’s Wan Yuan and Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Wen respectively.

For Yu, it was a tough battle as she won 4-2 (6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 3-11, 11-7) against Wan playing at home. For Ng, it was more of a cruise as she won in straight games versus Huang (11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2).

Contrasting results for home crowd

Germany’s crowd got a bit of bittersweet session in the morning, as Bastian Steger moved on but his compatriot Kirill Fadeev could not.

Facing Argentinian Francisco Sanchi, Steger won in straight games (11-3, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4). However, Kirill could not find his feet against the Japanese Kakeru Sone, losing in four (11-6, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9).

Cho cruises

Korea Republic’s Cho Daeseong had little to no problems against Lebanon’s Mohammed Bannout, as he won 4-0 (11-5, 11-2, 11-6, 11-5) in under 21 minutes.

Belgian Martin Allegro had a similar first outing, seeing off the challenge of Grigore Sarcanean from Republic of Moldova in straight games win (11-6, 11-4, 11-7, 11-3).

Clean opening for Khalid Assar

Egypt’s Khalid Assar had a very good opening game here in Germany, as he coasted to a straight games win over Bulgarian Denislav Kodjabashev (11-2, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4).

Over at table 12, home crowd favorite Fanbo Meng needed seven games to beat Chilean Nicolas Burgos (8-11, 11-2, 12-10, 10-10, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7), in a thrilling opening encounter.

Ready for the first stage?