Competing in men’s singles class 2, Fabian Lamirault beat Russia’s Razul Nazirov (11-4, 11-3, 11-5); in class 5, Cao Ningning accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ming-Chih (11-8, 11-9, 11-6).
Likewise, class 5 there was success for the Rio silver medallist, Germany’s Valentin Baus, he beat Nicolas Saint-Aira (11-3, 11-3, 11-4). However, in the same category there was defeat for Serbia’s bronze medallist, Mitar Palikuca; he was beaten by Turkey’s Ali Ozturk (13-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6).
Meanwhile in class 2, something had to give; the Czech Republic’s Jiri Suchanek, Rio bronze medallist, opposed Poland’s Rafal Czuper, silver medallist; the verdict went to Jiri Suchanek, he prevailed in four games (11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9).
Likewise in men’s singles class 1, Korea Republic’s Joo Youngdae and Nam Kiwon, the respective silver and bronze medallist in Rio de Janeiro, enjoyed success.
Joo Youngdae eventually overcame the spirited resistance offered by Cuba’s Yunier Fernandez (8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 2-11, 11-7), Nam Kiwan ended the hopes of Hungary’s Endre Major (11-6, 14-12, 11-3).
However, if there were performances to stand out from the crowd, it was those afforded by Great Britain’s Tom Matthews and colleague Jack Hunter-Spivey. Both booked semi-final places.
Competing in his first ever Paralympic Games; in class 1, Tom Matthews beat Italy’s Andrea Borgato (11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10), in class 5, Jack Hunter-Spivey halted the ambitions of Norway’s Tommy Urhaug, the winner in 2012 in London. He prevailed by the very narrowest of decisions (9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 10-12, 12-10).