by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Sweden’s Truls Moregard, the top seed, reserved his third round place courtesy of success against Portugal’s Gonçalo Gomes (11-6, 14-16, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5), Nicolas Burgos, the no.2 seed, accounted for Spain’s Sergei Grau (11-7 11-3 11-6 11-9).
Likewise, Lev Katsman, the no.3 seed, beat Argentina’s Alexis Orencel (11-7, 13-11, 11-6, 11-7); Germany’s Kay Stumper, the no.4 seed, ended the aspirations of Finland’s Alex Naumi (9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5).
However, amongst the leading names in round two there were casualties.
Argentina’s Martin Bentancor, the no.5 seed, was beaten by Frenchman Jules Cavaille (11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-3), Portugal’s José Pedro Francisco, the no.6 seed, suffered at the hands of Russia’s Vladimir Sidorenko (11-5, 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-3). Similarly, the latter’s colleague, Maksim Grebnev, the no.8 seed, lost to the Czech Republic’s Frantisek Onderka (8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 12-10).
Success for Nicolas Burgos in the Junior Boys’ Singles event, there was more success; in the Junior Boys’ Doubles competition, partnering Canada’s Edward Ly and occupying the top seeded position in the competition, the duo made a fine start to their campaign. They accounted for Eduard Ionescu and Andrei Teodor Istrate in four games (9-11, 15-13, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5).
Similarly there was success in their initial encounters for the remaining leading pairs.
Maksim Grebnev and Lev Katsman, the no.2 seeds, accounted for the combination of Frenchman Bilal Hamache and Spain’s Diego Orantes (8-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3), Portugal’s Vitor Amorin and José Pedro Francisco, the no.3 seeds, beat the partnership formed by Aleksandr Kraskovski and Croatia’s Lovro Zovko (11-4, 11-9, 11-9).
In a similar manner Argentina’s Martin Bentancor and Santiago Lorenzo, the no.4 seeds, overcame Turkey’s Umut Emre Bassan and Ali Can Seker (11-8, 16-14, 11-8).
Play in the individual events in Platja d’Aro concludes on Thursday 10th May.
