by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
He accounted for Panama’s René Schaible (14-12, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6) and Chile’s Juan Lamadrid (11-8, 11-1, 11-7, 11-5) to complete a highly successful opening day.
Likewise, as the day concluded, there was also success for Lucas Bayona’s colleagues, Gaston Alto and Horacio Cifuentes; both players with high hopes of a place on the podium when play concludes.
Gaston Alto beat Chile’s Victor Coydan (11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7); Horacio Cifuentes overcame Marcelo Fernandez also from Chile (11-2, 11-5, 11-2, 11-4).
“I feel very comfortable playing in Santiago. Today I started well in the group stage. I beat Victor Coydan four-nil. I think this is going to be a very even tournament. The level is good; there are players from Europe and South America who are all strong.” Gaston Alto
Success for Gaston Alto as the day concluded; it was the same for the other leading names on first phase duty.
Brazil’s Vitor Ishiy beat Argentina’s Luciano Alto (11-7, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6); Bulgaria’s Philipp Floritz accounted for Chile’s Guillermo Campusano (11-1, 11-4, 13-11, 11-1).
Meanwhile, as the day ended Chile’s Alejandro Rodriguez overcame Brazil’s Gustavo Ushisima (8-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-8, 14-12) and Argentina’s Nicolas Galvano defeated Chile’s Manuel Moya (11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 10-12, 11-2, 5-11, 11-6).
Notably earlier, Pablo Tabachnik, like Nicolas Galvano from Argentina, had beaten colleague Juan Daher (11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9).
Play in the qualification stage of all events concludes on Thursday 27th April.
