Tournaments

29 Jul 2017

Squeals to cause a tidal wave in the not too far distant Panama Canal, the Dominican Republic’s Eva Brito emerged the player to cause the biggest surprise as play commenced in the Women’s Singles event at the 2017 ITTF-Pan American Cup in San José, Costa Rica on the morning of Friday 28th July.

The 22 year old, occupying the no.9 seeded spot in the competition performed one of the most spectacular recoveries of her career to beat Brazil’s Gui Lin, the no.3 seed.

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

After winning the opening game, she lost the next two and then in the fourth trailed 3-8; it appeared that Gui Lin would very quickly close the door; Eva Brito had other ideas.

She reduced the arrears to one point at 7-8; understandably Hugo Hoyama, the Brazilian coach sitting courtside, called “Time Out”. Surely the break would help halt the momentum of Eva Brito. It proved quite the opposite; she lost just one more point in the fourth game, before in the vital decider winning the first ten points!

“I won the first game 10-8 but then I just played too fast, my mind wandered, I wasn’t focused; when I was down in the fourth I just forgot about the score, played one point at a time and played more consistently. In the fifth game I was totally focused and with my forehand I played with more spin, I played slower. I’ve been practising in Germany at the Top Spin Club in Hieldeberg and that has helped.” Eva Brito

Impressive from Eva Brito; in the corresponding match in the same group, it was success in emphatic fashion for Puerto Rico’s Melanie Diaz; the no.8 seed; she beat Costa Rica’s Angie Araya in three straight games (11-6, 11-4, 11-2)

Success against expectations for Eva Brito; otherwise as play commenced in the Women’s Singles event, it was progress as expected.

The one player required to answer some questions was Colombia’s Paula Medina; she found Peru’s Angela Mori a most worthwhile adversary (12-10, 11-8, 11-8).

“Always, the first match is always difficult; she is good from the backhand; good at creating angles but throughout the match she had problems returning my service, when I served with backspin, she often returned into the net.” Paula Medina

A straight games win for Paula Medina; in the same group, Lily Zhang of the United States made a most positive start; she overcame El Salvador’s Estefania Ramirios without the loss of a single game (11-2, 11-5, 11-7).

Meanwhile, in the remaining two groups, imposing performances were the order of the day

Canada’s Zhang Mo, the top seed, beat Colombia’s Angie Umbacia (11-3, 11-5, 11-7); Wu Yue of the United States, overcame Guatemala’s Angie Estrada (11-2, 11-2, 11-6).

Likewise, Brazil’s Caroline Kumahara, the no.4 seed, defeated Canada’s Alicia Cote (11-9, 11-5, 11-6); Chile’s Paulina Vega proved too strong the Dominican Republic’s Esmerlyn Castro (11-3, 11-9, 11-3).

Day One: ITTF-Pan American Cup
Photos: Carlos Borban

World Cup 2017 Pan American Cup Eva Brito
Loading

No results found.