2018 Luxembourg Open

Hopes of regaining title alive but surprise names reach penultimate round

07 Sep 2018

The winner four years ago, Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin kept her hopes alive of regaining the Women’s Singles title at the 2018 Luxembourg Open on Thursday 6th September; the no.3 seed, she duly reserved her place in the penultimate round.

Progress for Yang Xiaoxin as her status predicted, it was the same for the host country’s Sarah de Nutte, the top seed, however, the remaining semi-finalists were somewhat surprise names; Daria Shadrina who started proceedings as the no.27 seed and Anna Blazko, the no.29 seed, both booked last four places.

Anna Blazhko, surprise semi-finalist (Photo: Ireneusz Kanabrodzki)

by Ian Marshall, Editor

Furthermore, it means that Russia is guaranteed a place in the final, an event that is organised on a progressive knock-out system. At the semi-final stage Sarah de Nutte meets Yang Xiaoxin, Daria Shadrina opposes Anna Blazko.

Excelling expectations, Daria Shadrina accounted for Tanja Helle of the Netherlands, the no.22 seed (12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-4), prior to ousting Argentina’s Camila Arguelles, the no.6 seed (7-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2).

The opening rounds safely negotiated, the good form continued. Daria Shadrina beat Belgium’s Margo Degraef, the no.11 seed (11-9, 9-11, 11-13, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8) to reserve her place in the last eight, where she overcame Sweden’s Filipa Bergand, the no.17 seed (11-5, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10, 11-4), very much a player in form; in the second round she had beaten England’s Tin-Tin Ho, the no.4 seed (17-15, 12-10, 11-5, 12-10).

Success contrary to predictions, it was the same from Anna Blazkho. Similar to Daria Shadrina, she caused Sweden heartaches. In the opening round, she beat Christina Källberg, the no.13 seed (11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5), prior to accounting for Luxembourg’s Sarah Meyer, the no.21 seed (11-7, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6) and Bérénice Marteau of France (11-5, 11-2, 11-4, 4-11, 9-11, 11-5) very much a surprise quarter-finalist. No current world ranking, in the second round she had caused a major upset by ousting Switzerland’s Rachel Moret, the no.2 seed (5-11, 2-11, 11-9, 7-11, 17-15, 11-9, 11-1).

Problems for notable names, for Sarah de Nutte and Yang Xiaoxin, there were no such travails.

Safely through to the quarter-finals, Sarah de Nutte beat Poland’s Magdalena Sikorska, the no.20 seed (11-6, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7) to secure her semi-final place; in the same round, Yang Xiaoxin defeated Laura Pfeffer of France, the no.10 seed (11-3, 11-6, 11-3, 11-4).

Play concludes on Saturday 8th September.

2018 Luxembourg Open: Entries – Men

2018 Luxembourg Open: Entries – Women

2018 Luxembourg Open: Results – Men’s Singles (Thursday 6th September)

2018 Luxembourg Open: Results – Women’s Singles (Thursday 6th September)

2018 Luxembourg Open: Roll of Honour – Past Champions

2018 Luxembourg Open Sarah De Nutte Yang Xiaoxin Daria Shadrina Anna Blazhko

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