by Ian Marshall, Editor

Likewise, it was top spot for the Dominican Republic’s Pedro Cabrera and Trinidad and Tobago’s Luc O’Young as it was from the host country’s Diego Orantes; the only top eight name to experience problems was Canada’s Alexander Bu, the no.5 seed, he needed the full five games to beat Mudit Mahajan of the United States (9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5).

Few problems for the highly rated but lower down the order there were surprises. Brazil’s Denis Oshiro beat Guatemala’s Sergio Castillo, the no.10 seed (12-10, 11-3, 15-13); likewise Sohil Puri from the United States accounted for Puerto Rico’s Jabdiel Torres, the no.12 seed (11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8). Meanwhile, also from the United States, Jayden Zhou overcame Peru’s Joel Cisneros, the no.14 seed (13-11, 11-8, 11-8).

However with matches still remaining in each of the 16 groups and players finishing in first and second places in each group advancing to the main draw, the door is not closed.

Alas for El Salvador’s Enzo Leiva and Guatemala’s Roberto Diaz; that is not the situation. Enzo Leiva, the no.13 seed, was beaten by both Guatemala’s Kevin Ruano (9-11, 11-1, 11-4, 11-8) and by Alexander Wu of the United States (11-3, 11-3, 6-11, 10-12, 11-4). Similarly, Roberto Diaz, the no.15 seed, experienced defeats at the hands of Ved Sheth, like Alexander Wu from the United States (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7) and when confronting El Salvador’s Fiego Castellanos (11-5, 9-11, 11-13, 11-4, 11-8).

Play in the group stage of the Junior Boys’ Singles event concludes on Saturday 18th August.