Host nation disappointment

The no.8 seeds, the host nation’s Mateja Jeger and Sun Jiayi experienced an opening round women’s doubles defeat at the hands of Huang Hsin and Huang Yu-Chiao (9-11, 11-2, 9-11, 12-10, 11-3) on what proved a round of mixed fortunes for Chinese Taipei.

Conversely, Huang Yu-Wen and Li Yu-Jhun, the no.6 seeds, suffered at the hands of Japan’s Haruna Ojio and Yumeno Soma (11-6, 11-7, 11-8).

Croatian guaranteed podium place

The host nation’s Sun Jiayi, the no.9 seed, booked her place in the under 21 women’s singles final. In the penultimate round she beat Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, the no.2 seed (11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6).

In the final to be played later in the day she opposes Japan’s Yumeno Soma, the top seed; in the corresponding semi-final encounter, she overcame colleague and qualifier, Kyoka Idesawa, by the very narrowest of decisions (6-11, 12-10, 13-11, 11-13, 11-9).

Again so near yet so far for Bastien Rembert

Runner up in Serbia, the same in Slovenia, now for the third consecutive week it is so near yet so far for Frenchman, Bastien Rembert. The no.11 seed, he was beaten in the penultimate round of the under 21 men’s singles event by Japan’s Yukiya Uda, the no.2 seed (11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 17-15).

In the final to be played later in the day Yukiya Uda faces Kanak Jha of the United States. The no.2 seed, he booked his place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Ioannis Sgouropoulos of Greece, the no.19 seed (6-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 11-3).

Title contenders progress

Major contenders for honours safely negotiated the men’s singles second round.

Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, the top seed, beat French qualifier, Jules Rolland (11-6, 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3), Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson, the no.2 seed, overcame colleague and qualifier Elias Ranefur (6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 15-13). Likewise, Kanak Jha of the United States, the no.4 seed, ended the adventures of Aliaksandr Khanin from Belarus, the no.20 seed (11-8, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7).

Notable names advance

Notable names emerged success in round two of the men’s singles event; Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic, Germany’s Benedikt Duda and Japan’s Masataka Morizono all succeeded without the need for a deciding seventh game.

Darko Jorgic, the no.5 seed, beat Indian qualifier, Amalraj Anthony (11-7, 11-9,9-11, 11-9, 11-6), Benedikt Duda, the no.6 seed, overcame Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro, the no.19 seed (9-11. 13-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6). Likewise, Masataka Morizono, the no.7 seed halted the aspirations of Russian qualifier Mikhail Paikov (11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6).

Croatian progress

The host nation’s Wei Shihao and Tomislav Pucar both negotiated the second round of the men’s singles event successfully.

Wei Shihao, a qualifier, upset the seeding by beating Russia’s Alexander Shibaev, the no.10 seed (11-3, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4); Tomislav Pucar justified his no.9 seeded place in the draw, he accounted for Japanese qualifier Kenta Tazoe (11-5, 11-9, 11-2, 9-11, 11-13, 14-12).

Takuya Jin maintains form, upsets

Men’s Singles: Round Two

Semi-finalist the previous week in Slovenia, Japan’s Takuya Jin caused the biggest upset in the second round of the men’s singles event. Once again required to qualify, in the second round he beat Brazil’s Gustavo Tsuboi, the no.4 seed (11-6, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8).

Success for one Japanese qualifier against a seed; there was success for another. Shunsuke Togame ended the hopes of Slovenia’s Deni Kozul (11-3, 3-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5).

Sun Jiayi and Shin Yubin both upset seeding

Flying the flag for Croatia, Sun Jiayi, the no.32 seed, overcame the backspin skills of Ukraine’s Ganna Gaponova, the no.11 seed (8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 17-15, 11-2).

A fine effort from Sun Jiayi, it was the same from Korea Republic’s Shin Yubin; a qualifier and only 14 years old, she ended the hopes of Luxembourg’s Sarah de Nutte, the no.15 seed (15-13, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8).

Another former champion departs

Defeat for the 2014 champion, Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin was followed by defeat for the 2017 winner; in a grueling contest against fellow defender Ukraine’s 35 year old Tetyana Bilenko, the no.18 seed, Japan’s 20 years of age Honoka Hashimoto, the no.6 seed, experienced excruciating defeat.

She was beaten by the very narrowest of seven game margins (14-12, 4-11, 12-14, 11-9, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9).

Major title contenders progress

Major title contenders, Japan’s Saki Shibata and Miyuu Kato alongside Romania’s Elizabeta Samara safely negotiated the second round of the women’s singles event.

Saki Shibata, the no.2 seed, beat Viktoria Pavlovich of Belarus, the no.22 seed (11-8, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6), Miyuu Kato, the no.5 seed, accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yi-Hua (11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9). Likewise Elizabeta Samara, the no.4 seed, ended the hopes of Thai qualifier Orawan Paranang (12-10, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 2-11, 11-8).

Su Pei-Ling maintains form

A first round women’s singles win in opposition to Austria’s Sofia Polcanova, the no.3 seed (11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8); Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling continued her good form; in round two she beat Sweden’s Linda Bergström, the no.17 seed (11-6, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10).

Upsets, in the top half of the draw, Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, the no.7 seed, is the highest ranked player as the third round looms; in round two she beat Poland’s Natalia Bajor, the no.31 seed (11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3).

Generations apart

A gap of 40 years, Japan’s 14 year old Miyuu Kihara, the no.19 seed emerged successful in the battle of the generations.

She caused somewhat of an upset, she beat Luxembourg’s 55 year old, Ni Xia Lian, the no.10 seed in 11-5, 11-3, 11-7, 12-10).

End of road for former champion

The winner in 2014 in Zagreb when beating Misako Wakamiya in the final, in the second round of the women’s singles event, Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin, the no.20 seed, was beaten Japan’s 16 years old Miyu Nagasaki, the no.8 seed.

Miyu Nagasaki avenged the defeat of her colleague five years earlier in four straight games (11-5, 11-3, 11-7, 12-10).

Haruna Ojio causes biggest shock to date

Required to qualify, Haruna Ojio caused the biggest upset of the tournament to date; in the second round of the women’s singles event she beat colleague Hitomi Sato, the top seed (1-11, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4).

Accepted both are colleagues and know each other well but Haruna Ojio is only 13 years old.

More disappointment for India

Top seed, India’s Manav Vikash Thakkar experienced a quarter-final under 21 men’s singles defeat at the hands of Ioannis Sgouropoulos of Greece, the no.19 seed (11-5, 11-7, 11-8); the Greek he now meets Kanak Jha of the United States, the no.9 seed. He accounted for Poland’s Maciej Kubik, the no.33 seed (8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8).

Meanwhile in the lower half of the draw Frenchman Bastien Rembert opposes Japan’s Yukiya Uda; in the round of the last eight, Bastien Rembert, the no.11 seed, accounted for Tian Ye of the United States, the no.30 seed (11-2, 11-9, 11-8), Yukiya Uda, the no.2 seed, ended the progress of Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes, the no.14 seed (11-6, 11-6, 11-7).

Indian star misses out

Third seed Archana Girish Kamath of India has missed out on a podium spot following a 3-1 defeat to Japan’s Kyoka Idesawa (8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5) to set up an all-Japan meeting with top seed Yumeno Soma, who beat Slovenia’s Aleksandra Vovk (11-7, 11-4, 11-3).

Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz also progressed with a four games victory over Adina Diaconu (11-5, 12-10, 5-11, 11-1) while the host nation’s Sun Jiayi claimed a ‘walkover’ win against Daria Trigolos.

Repeat outcome

Pushed right down to the wire at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships in Budapest and in Zagreb the outcome was the same as Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson narrowly saw off Scotland’s Gavin Rumgay (11-4, 8-11, 3-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-3, 11-7). Another Swedish victory came courtesy of Elias Ranefur, who proved too strong for Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes (13-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-9).

Early departure for Croatian star

Much to the disappointment of the home fans Andrej Gacina has fallen in round one after the no.16 seed failed to convert a two games lead against Ukraine’s Yevhen Pryshchepa (9-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5).

However, fellow Croatian representative Wei Shihao was able to avoid the same fate, beating Austria’s Andreas Levenko 4-1 (11-5, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8).

Top seed off to winning start

Top seed for the men’s singles draw, Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan successfully negotiated his opening round encounter against Ronit Bhanja by a 4-1 margin (8-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7). As for USA’s Kanak Jha, seeded two positions lower in third, it was a six games win at Alexandru Cazacu’s expense (11-6, 11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9).

Japanese quartet strike success

Japan’s Saki Shibata, seeded second, is off to a strong start, posting a fine 4-0 win against Austrian opponent Karoline Mischek (11-5, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4).

Miyu Kato and Honoka Hashimoto also registered opening round successes for Japan with victories over Norway’s Ma Wenting (11-7, 11-2, 11-9, 11-4) and Russia’s Maria Malanina (8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2) while Satsuki Odo prevailed in her meeting with Germany’s Wan Yuan (8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6).

Sofia Polcanova eliminated!

Seeded third for the women’s singles event but Austria’s Sofia Polcanova has been knocked out at the first hurdle in Zagreb following a fine display from Chinese Taipei qualifier Su Pei-Ling (11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8).

Meanwhile, there was a case of sisterly revenge as Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz beat the player responsible for her sister Melanie’s qualification exit, Romania’s Arina Singeorzan across five games (11-5, 11-8, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6).

Crushing start for home players

In the opening session of the day the host nation tasted defeat on two fronts: named as the no.21 seeded player but Mateja Jeger lost out to Brazilian qualifier Caroline Kumahara (11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-4) while Klara Cakol’s superb recovery effort was halted by no.25 seed Nadezhda Bogdanova (11-5, 11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 7-11, 12-10).

Main event commences

The opening day of main draw action at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Croatia Open is here – take a detailed look at the day’s schedule below:

The only blemish to the copybook came at the semi-final stage of the junior girls’ team competition when, in the opening encounter of the fixture against Chinese Taipei, Zhang Xiaotong experienced defeat at the hands of Yu Hsiu-Ting (13-11, 11-9, 7-11, 5-11, 11-7).

Immediately China levelled but endured some tense moments as Shi Xunyao needed the full five games to beat Hsu Yi-Chen (11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5). A crucial win, the momentum in favour of the champions elect, Yuan Yuan accounted for Chang Ju-Chia (11-6, 11-7, 11-7), before Shi Xunyao returned to the action. She overcame Yu Hsiu-Ting (11-5, 11-8, 11-5) to end matters.

A place in the final booked, a 3-0 win was recorded against Japan’s Misa Inayoshi, Noa Fukuoka and Reina Aso; a most emphatic win, not one single individual match was dropped. Zang Xiaotong beat Misa Inayoshi (11-8, 11-2, 11-3), Shi Xunyao accounted for Noa Fukuoka (11-5, 11-6, 11-7); Yuan Yuan concluded matters by overcoming Reina Aso (11-6, 11-8, 12-10).

Defeat but a most worthy effort by the Japanese outfit who had started proceeding as the no.12 seeds. At the quarter-final stage they recorded a 3-1 win in opposition to the no.19 seeds, Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ci-Xuan, Chen Tzu-Ting and Jhou Ting-Yu, before emerging successful by the same margin at the semi-final stage when facing the no.2 seeds, Hong Kong’s Chau Wing Sze, Lee Ka Yee and Wong Chin Yau.

Impressive from Shi Xunyao, Yuan Yuan and Zhang Xiaotong; it was even more impressive in the cadet girls’ team event from Chen Yi, Kuai Man and Qin Yuxuan, not one single match was surrendered.

Similar to their junior colleagues, a direct entry to the semi-finals, a 3-0 win was recorded in opposition to the combination of Japan’s Naoe An and Yua Yamasaki, who lined up alongside Romania’s Elena Zaharia, before in the final, the same score-line was claimed when facing Chinese Taipei’s Chen Tsai-Ni, Kiu Ru-Yun and Wang Hsiao-Hsin.

In the opposite half of the draw, in the quarter-final round, the Chinese Taipei trio had beaten the team formed by Croatia’s Hana Arapovic, Hungary’s Dorottya Tolgyes and Anna Hursey of Wales. A 3-1 success had been the order of play; one round later at the semi-final stage, a 3-0 outcome was the result in opposition to the international selection comprising Mexico’s Arantxa Cossio Aceves, Egypt’s Hana Goda and Malamatenia Papadimitriou of Greece.

Attention now turns to the individual events, play concludes in Bangkok on Sunday 19th May.

Safely through the group stage without blemish, at the quarter-final stage of the junior boys’ team event Kuang Li, Liu Yebo and Xie Congfan accounted for the host nation’s Yanapong Panagitgun, Veerapat Puthikungasern and Wattanachai Samranvong, before overcoming Belgium’s Nicolas Degros, Olav Kosolosky and Adrien Rassenfosse to reserve their place in the final.

Emphatic wins it was the same in the final; no charity was displayed in opposition to the Singaporean combination of Josh Chua Shao Han, Pang Yew En Koen and Beh Kun Ting.

The title secured in style, the only players test the Chinese outfit were Yanapong Panagitgun and Beh Kun Ting. At the quarter-final stage Yanapong Panagitgun had extended Kuang Li to five games (11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7), as had Beh Kun Ting in the final when opposing Xie Congfan (8-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7).

Runners up spot for Singapore, a worthy outcome, a direct entry to the semi-final round; they booked their place in the title decider courtesy of a 3-0 win in opposition to India’s Raegan Albuquerque, Deepit Patil and Manush Utpalbhai Shah.

Meanwhile, in the cadet boys’ team event, a direct entry to the semi-finals, a 3-1 win was recorded against the combination of Iran’s Navid Shams who lined up alongside the Czech Republic’s Simon Belik and Stepan Brhel. The player to cause the problems was Navid Shams; he beat Lin Shidong (11-7, 11-9, 11-4).

A place in the final booked, once again a 3-1 margin of victory; this time in opposition to Hong Kong’s Yiu Kwan To, Yu Nok and Baldwin Chan Ho Wah; however, it could have been much closer. In the opening contest Lin Shidong beat Yiu Kwan To by the very narrowest of margins (11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9), before Yu Nok levelled matters by overcoming Chen Yuanyu (13-11, 11-7, 16-14).

Matters level, Huang Youzhen steadied the ship by beating Baldwin Chan Ho Wah (11-6, 11-9, 12-14, 11-9), before Chen Yuanyu defeated Yiu Kwan To (9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9) to end matters.

Notably, in the opposite half of the draw, Yiu Kwan To, Yu Nok and Baldwin Chan Ho Wah had recorded a 3-1 quarter-final success against India’s Vishwa Deenadayalan, Aadarsh Om Chhetri and Divyash Srivastava, prior to emerging successful in a full distance five match contest in opposition the Korea Republic’s Gil Minseok, Kim Junhyeok and Kim Minwoo.

Attention now turns to the individual events, play concludes in Bangkok on Sunday 19th May.