Tournaments

23 Mar 2018

Undoubtedly a name to note for the future, China’s Qian Tianyi won the Junior Girls’ Singles title at the 2018 Italian Junior and Cadet Open in Lignano on Thursday 22nd March; not only did she win, she won in style.

Notably, the success came after she had secured top prize in the Junior Girls’ Doubles event in partnership with colleague Huang Fanzhen, the player she was to beat in the Junior Girls’ Singles final.

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

In the title deciding contest Huang Fanzhen and Qian Tianyi accounted for compatriots Chen Yi and Wu Yanchen (11-6, 12-10, 11-4), a fact that underlined the dominance of the Chinese girls.

They provided all four Junior Girls’ Singles semi-finalists. After recording a quarter-final success against Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus (11-2, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5), Qian Tianyi, the top seed, reserved her place in the final at the expense of Wu Yanchen (11-1, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5), the player who one round earlier had ousted Canada’s Isabelle Xiong (11-2, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7), a young lady very much in form. In the third round she had caused an upset of note by overcoming Romania’s Tania Plaian, the no.4 seed (11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9).

Likewise in the third round it was defeat for Tania Plaian’s compatriot, Andreea Dragoman, the no.2 seed, she was beaten by Huang Fanzhen (11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10) who then ousted Russia’s Ekaterina Zironova (12-10, 11-8, 15-13, 11-5), prior to overcoming colleague Chen Yi (11-6, 12-10, 11-7, 11-1) to reserve her place in the final.

Earlier at the quarter-final stage, Chen Yi had beaten surprise quarter-finalist, Russia’s Olga Vishniakova (9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5), the third round winner in opposition to Rachel Sung of the United States (11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6). Notably in round two Rachel Sung had ousted Maharyta Baltishite of Belarus, the no.3 seed (11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7).

Surprises but not where Qian Tianyi was concerned; she beat Huang Fanzhen in four straight games to secure the title (11-5, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7).

Play continues with action in the Junior Girls’ and Cadet Girls’ Team events.

World Junior Circuit 2018 Italian Junior & Cadet Open Qian Tianyi
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