08 Aug 2018

Play in the opening phase of the Girls’ Team event at the 2018 Latin American Cadet Championships in San José, Costa Rica completed; on Tuesday 7th August, Brazil and Colombia emerged as the surprise outfits to reserve quarter-final places.

In the last four, they line up alongside Mexico, the top seeds and Puerto Rico, the no.3 seeds.

by Ian Marshall, Editor

Both Brazil and Colombia remained unbeaten in the initial group stage, emerging in first place contrary to expectations.

Notably, Brazil beat Chile, the no.2 seeds, the mainstay of the success being Giulia Takahashi; she accounted for both Natasha Ruiz (11-5, 10-12, 11-6, 11-6) and Mariam Ruiz (11-6, 12-10, 7-11, 11-4). The one further win for the victors was secured by Laura Watanabe in the second match of the fixture, she overcame Mariam Ruiz (10-12, 11-3, 12-10, 6-11, 11-6); the one success for Chile was secured in the third contest when Macarena Montecino beat Fabiana Shintate (11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6).

Defeat for Chile but it was their only defeat; thus second position in the group was secured and a place in the quarter-finals.

However, there was to be no further progress; a three-nil defeat was experienced at the hands of Puerto Rico’s Brianna Burgos, Kassandra Maldonado and Zulnamy Soto, the trio having earlier in the proceedings finished in second place in their group. They suffered a three-one reverse when facing the Colombian outfit comprising Alejandra Alzate, Juliana Rodriguez and Sofia Varela.

Mainstay of the victory was Alejandra Alzate who beat both Zulnamy Soto (11-3, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9) and Kassandra Maldonado (11-7, 11-5, 11-8); the one further Colombian win being recorded in the opening match of the fixture when Juliana Rodriguez accounted for Kassandra Maldonado (13-11, 11-7, 11-7).

At the semi-final stage, the top seeds, Mexico’s Marbella Aceves, Aurora Andrade and Arantxa Cossio Aceves, who secured first place in their group without surrendering a single individual match, confront Puerto Rico. In the adjacent half of the draw, Brazil who gained a direct entry to the last four, opposes Colombia.

Both semi-finals and finals will be played on Wednesday 8th August.

2018 Latin American Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Team – Results Stage One (Tuesday 7th August)
2018 Latin American Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Team – Results Stage One – Detail (Tuesday 7th August)

2018 Latin American Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Team – Results Stage One (Tuesday 7th August)
2018 Latin American Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Team – Results Stage One – Detail (Tuesday 7th August)

2018 Latin American Cadet Championships: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Stage One (Thursday 9th August)
2018 Latin American Cadet Championships: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Stage One (Thursday 9th August)

2018 Latin American Cadet Championships: Cadet Mixed Doubles – Main Draw (Thursday 9th August)

2018 Latin American Cadet Championships Guilia Takahashi