by Simon Daish
Runner up at the 2017 European Youth Championships but Cristian Pletea won’t have the opportunity to go one better this time around with No.20 seed Meng Fanbo defeating the third seed in a seven game thriller (5-11, 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9).
Success for one German star but the same cannot be said for the country’s two other competitors involved in action as Kay Stumper and Cedric Meissner experienced defeat.
Kay Stumper, seeded 18th, lost out to unseeded Russian opponent Artem Dvoynikov in straight games (11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 12-10). Cedric Meissner didn’t fare much better with the 19th seed exiting to defending Champions Ioannis Sgouropolous (11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9).
Italy’s Matteo Mutti negotiated his tie with Poland’s Jan Zandecki across six games (11-7, 10-12, 11-4, 8-11, 11-2, 11-7) with Truls Moregard and Bastien Rembert, seeded fourth and sixth respectively, also progressing.
The Junior Boys’ Singles competition will return on Monday 23rd July.
