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WASHINGTON -- Nationals starter Anibal Sanchez is likely headed to the injured list after leaving Thursday's game in the second inning with a hamstring injury, manager Davey Martinez said.
With one out, Sanchez walked Brandon Nimmo. Immediately after the pitch, the team's medical staff visited Sanchez on the mound. Following a brief consultation, the veteran righty yelled into his glove and then walked gingerly back to the dugout.
He was replaced by reliever Erick Fedde as the Nationals went on to win 7-6.
Martinez said after the game that the 35-year old Sanchez had a hamstring strain, will have an MRI on Friday and likely will wind up on the injured list.
"He tried to walk it off, thinking it was a cramp, but it pulled on him pretty good," Martinez said. "He's dealt with it. He knows he's dealt with it before. He doesn't think this one is really bad. But the MRI will tell us more tomorrow."
Sanchez, who has a 5.10 ERA and is winless in nine starts this season, had two strikeouts and had allowed one hit prior to exiting with a 4-0 lead.
"I'm probably going to miss another start, but I don't know yet," Sanchez said. "I just want to wait for tomorrow. I just got a little twist and after, it's really hard for me to hold my body straight to home plate. I tried to keep it as soft as I can, just to not put too much pressure on my leg, but it's my landing leg. There's nothing I can do. If I've got a leg problem, I can't even throw the ball straight to home plate."
The Nationals are one of three teams that have used only five starting pitchers this season, along with the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins. If Sanchez misses his next start, his probable replacement would be Fedde, a former first-round pick who has started 14 games for the Nationals over the last two seasons.
Sanchez signed a two-year, $19 million with the Nationals as a free agent in December. He went 7-6 with a 2.83 ERA in 24 starts for the Atlanta Braves in 2018.
The Colorado Rockies will recall top prospect Brendan Rodgers on Friday, according to multiple reports.
Rodgers, an infielder, was ranked as the No. 28 overall prospect in Major League Baseball prior to this season by ESPN's Keith Law.
He is hitting .356 with nine home runs and 21 RBIs this season in 35 games for Triple-A Albuquerque.
Rodgers, 22, has primarily played shortstop during his five seasons in the minors but has played mostly at second base this season, starting 25 games. He also has three starts at third base and six at shortstop.
It is unclear what corresponding move the Rockies will make, but first baseman Daniel Murphy has hit just .212 since returning from a fractured left index finger and possibly could be a candidate to return to the injured list. If that were to happen, second baseman Ryan McMahon would likely move to first base with Rodgers playing second.
Also, shortstop Trevor Story suffered a bruised knee in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Boston Red Sox. Story told reporters he doesn't need to go on the injured list, but if the team rests him, Rodgers likely would play at shortstop.
The Rockies selected Rodgers third overall in the 2015 draft.
The news of Rodgers' expected promotion was first reported by MLB.com.
New York Mets right fielder Michael Conforto was diagnosed with a concussion following a collision with teammate Robinson Cano during a 7-6 loss to the Washington Nationals on Thursday.
Conforto and Cano were chasing after a pop fly by Howie Kendrick near the right-field line in the fifth inning when Cano's shoulder connected with Conforto's jaw. Conforto was slow to get up and came out of the game after a long conversation with manager Mickey Callaway and trainer Brian Chicklo.
"He hit the ground hard," Callaway said of Conforto. "He hit his head on Cano's shoulder, he hit the ground. He was kind of dazed. We knew right away we were going to have to get him out of there."
Conforto will not accompany the team to Florida for a three-game series with the Miami Marlins that starts Friday. He will take the train from Washington to New York for further medical evaluation.
Conforto hit a three-run homer to right in the third inning -- his third homer of the week.
Earlier, Mets left fielder Jeff McNeil left in the middle of the third with abdominal tightness. Calloway said he will be evaluated Friday. McNeil has a .354 average, second in the majors, with two home runs and 14 RBIs.
McNeil told reporters he has had four hernia surgeries and sometimes experiences tightness that takes a day or two to go away.
"It's not something I'm worried about," McNeil said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
British number one Johanna Konta reached the Italian Open quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-4 win over Venus Williams - her second match of the day.
Konta, 27, came from a set down to beat world number eight Sloane Stephens before overcoming seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams, now ranked 50th.
Williams was hampered by injury and an assured Konta won in 72 minutes.
She will play Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova or Russian Daria Kasatkina in the last eight in Rome.
Williams received a bye into the third round after sister Serena withdrew because of a knee injury.
Wiliams, 38, had won her past three meetings with Konta, including the 2017 Wimbledon semi-final.
Williams had her right knee strapped and, although she improved as the match wore on, Konta reached the first Premier clay-court quarter-final of her career.
World number one Naomi Osaka recorded consecutive 6-3 6-3 wins over Dominika Cibulkova and Mihaela Buzarnescu to set up a last-eight meeting with world number four Kiki Bertens.
Former French Open and Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza withdrew from her match against Victoria Azarenka with a thigh injury when 6-4 3-1 down.
Nadal is 'super salty' & Djokovic 'cringeworthy' - Kyrgios hammers rivals in frank podcast
He's never been one to hold back and now Nick Kyrgios has unleashed a volley of criticism against some of his fellow professionals in an unfiltered interview.
Speaking on the 'No Challenges Remaining' podcast, the 24-year-old branded Rafael Nadal "super salty" and called Novak Djokovic "cringeworthy".
In the 50-minute interview, Kyrgios called Roger Federer the "greatest of all time" but had less warm words for the Swiss' great rival Nadal.
"He's my polar opposite. Literally my polar opposite," Kyrgios said. "And he's super salty.
"When he wins it's fine, he won't say anything bad, he'll credit the opponent - 'he competed well today, he's a great player' - but then as soon as I beat him, it's just like 'he has no respect for me, my fans and no respect to the game'. I'm like 'what are you talking about? I literally played this way that I beat you the other previous times and nothing changed'.
"It's not a good look. And then Uncle Toni [Nadal's coach] came out saying 'he lacks education'. I'm like 'I did 12 years at school, you idiot. I'm very educated. I understand that you're upset I beat your family again'."
The contents of the podcast interview became public on Thursday, the same day Kyrgios was defaulted from the Italian Open after throwing a chair on to the court and walking off.
He was docked a game by the umpire for unsportsmanlike conduct, and as Kyrgios packed his bags and left, the umpire awarded the match to Norway's Casper Ruud early in the deciding set.
Kyrgios on Novak Djokovic
"I just feel like he has a sick obsession with wanting to be liked. He just wants to be like Roger.
"For me personally, I don't care right now, I've come this far, I feel like he just wants to be liked so much that I just can't stand him.
"This whole celebration thing that he does after matches, it's like so cringeworthy. It's very cringeworthy.
"But he is a champion of the sport, one of the greatest you'll see.
"Djokjovic just rubs me the wrong way, always says what feels like he needs to say and never speaks his opinion."
Kyrgios on Andy Murray:
"I feel like his record against Djokovic is embarrassing, I've told him! I just feel like he's so much better than Novak, I've played them both, and I feel like Andy Murray returns better, he's harder to play against, I feel like his serve's better... I've told him 'you should have won so many more Grand Slams'.
"With Murray, he would have ticked all the boxes, it's just sad, it sucks not seeing him around here, in the locker room he was the best, always having bants and everybody was super friendly with him but he also had an opinion of some people too and he wasn't afraid to say things as well which I liked. He was just a lot of fun and I think the sport lost a good one there."
Kyrgios on Fernando Verdasco:
"Verdasco drives me nuts, man. It gets me so vexed, I'm like angry now that I just hear that name. He's the most arrogant person ever. He doesn't say hello, he thinks he's so good, he thinks he's God's gift. Dude, your backhand's pretty average and let's be honest, you hit a ball over a net.
"Guys like that, they drive me insane. There's no humility there, there's no perspective. It's just like 'I'm here, I'm so cool, I'm unbelievable because I hit a ball over the net. Do this for me, do this for me, I won't say hello to you, I'm too important'.
"Guys like that. See how angry I'm getting? It kills me."
Federer fights back to reach Italian Open last eight
World number three Roger Federer saved two break points in defeating 13th seed Borna Coric 2-6 6-4 7-6 (9-7) to reach the quarter-finals of the Italian Open.
Federer, playing in the event for the first time since 2016, beat Joao Sousa in straight sets earlier in the day.
Coric, 22, had not played since beating Cameron Norrie on Tuesday and returned superbly to race 4-0 ahead but Federer, 37, won in two hours, 31 minutes.
There were comfortable wins for Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
It was the first meeting on clay between Federer and Coric, with the Swiss leading 3-2 on previous encounters, having won the most recent 6-2 6-2 in Dubai this year.
Having lost the opening set comprehensively, during which he was treated for a blister, Federer had his first break point opportunity at 3-2 up in the second.
Though it was not taken, a magnificent cross-court forehand created another which led to a succession of exchanges of serve, culminating in another break from Federer to seal the set in 47 minutes.
The Swiss maestro saved a break point in both the fifth and nine games of the decider but a rare wayward forehand saw him slip 3-1 behind in the tie-break.
To tumultuous cheers from the crowd in the late evening, Federer, four times a beaten finalist in the tournament, rallied and served out for victory on his second match point.
He will next face eighth-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Italian Fabio Fognini.
Defending champion Nadal, seeking his ninth Italian title, conceded only two games in winning his two matches on Thursday.
The 32-year-old Spaniard, who has lost in the semi-finals of his last four events, took one hour eight minutes to beat France's Jeremy Chardy 6-0 6-1 and six minutes fewer to see off Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 6-1 6-0.
Nadal next plays fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who defeated 11th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov 7-5 3-6 6-3.
World number one Djokovic, having beaten 20-year-old Denis Shapovalov 6-1 6-3 earlier in the day, needed only an hour and three minutes to oust German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3 6-0.
The 31-year-old Serb, who won the last of his four Italian titles in 2015, next plays seventh seed Juan Martin del Potro, who saw off Casper Ruud - the Norwegian who had progressed after Nick Kyrgios forfeited their second-round match - 6-4 6-4.
Watch: Angry Kyrgios' chair-throwing meltdown at Italian Open
Australia's Nick Kyrgios threw his racquet, kicked a bottle and hurled a chair on the court, then forfeited his second-round match at the Italian Open after walking off court against Norway's Casper Ruud.
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READ MORE: Kyrgios forfeits after storming off court
Kyrgios forfeits after storming off court at Italian Open
Nick Kyrgios admitted "emotions got the better of me" after forfeiting his second-round match with Norwegian Casper Ruud at the Italian Open.
The Australian, 24, was in the deciding set when he was given a game penalty, reportedly for swearing, to trail 2-1.
He then kicked a bottle, threw down his racquet, hurled a chair on the court, picked up his bag and walked off.
Kyrgios was fined 20,000 euros (£17,461) for unsportsmanlike conduct and also lost his prize money.
In addition to the prize money of £29,366, he forfeited the 45 ranking points gained during the tournament and was told to cover the costs of his hospitality.
Writing on Instagram, he said: "Very eventful day to say to the least. Emotions got the better of me and I just wanted to say that the atmosphere was crazy out there today, just super unfortunate that it had to end in a default.
"Sorry Roma, see you again, maybe."
Kyrgios has a history of fines for poor behaviour on court and in March clashed with a fan at the Miami Open.
Earlier this week he served underarm during victory over Daniil Medvedev, while his actions on Thursday came as it emerged he told a podcast interview that he "could not stand" Novak Djokovic - who he described as "cringeworthy" - and called Rafael Nadal "super salty".
In the 50-minute interview, Kyrgios, who last year said he was talking to psychologists to address mental health issues, was asked about his opinion on a number of tennis stars.
After branding Roger Federer the "greatest of all time", he went in on Nadal, calling the Spaniard his "polar opposite".
But he had nicer things to say about Britain's Andy Murray, currently out of the game following hip surgery.
"It sucks not seeing him around here, in the locker room he was the best," he said.
Kyrgios' past controversies
Analysis
BBC Tennis correspondent Russell Fuller:
In October 2016, having shown minimal effort in a match with Mischa Zverev in Shanghai, Kyrgios was suspended from ATP tournaments for eight weeks.
A year earlier, in Montreal, Kyrgios had been given a suspended 28-day ban for making a lewd suggestion about Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend.
This time, the Australian can expect at least a heavy fine.
He will be one of the most talked-about people at Roland Garros when the French Open gets under way in 10 days' time. But not because he is thought to have a chance of winning.
Kyrgios is an entertainer, both with a racquet in his hand and when airing his unfiltered views on a podcast, but regularly laments his lack of conditioning.
He is happy to admit he plays too much basketball.
And he knows a coach would probably be a very good idea, but prefers the freedom of only having to answer to himself.
Day One: Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Croatia Open
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.
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