by Ian Marshall, Editor
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran beat Japan’s Masaki Yoshida, the no.15 seed (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8), before Sharath Kamal Achanta, accounted for Frenchman, Simon Gauzy, the no.7 seed and runner up one year ago (6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4).
Meanwhile, showing no charity whatsoever, teenager Lin Yun-Ju overcame host nation’s David Powell, the no.16 seed (11-1, 11-3, 11-6, 11-1) to be followed by Yuki Hirano who prevailed in an all Japanese duel. Eventually, he beat Kenta Matsudaira, the no.9 seed, by the very narrowest of decisions (12-14, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 3-11, 11-8, 12-10).
Four upsets making a first round Men’s Singles ten in total.
Furthermore, one more seed almost departed; Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, the no.5 seed, saved two match points in the sixth game against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An, before trailing 5-9 in the seventh and then winning six points in a row steal victory (9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-13, 12-10, 11-9).
Surprises abundant, not for China’s Xu Xin, Germany’s Patrick Franziska and Japan’s Jin Ueda; they emerged successful as their status predicted.
Xu Xin, the no.2 seed, withstood a brave challenge from Taimo Arinobu, like Jin Ueda from Japan (11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6); rather more comfortably Patrick Franziska, the no.14 seed, beat Korea Republic’s Kim Donghyun (11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2). Similarly, Jin Ueda, the no.13 seed, ended the hopes of colleague Masataka Morizono (13-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3).
The second round of the Men’s Singles event will be played later in the day in the evening session of play.
