by Ian Marshall, Editor
The win means that Ning Jing, the reigning European Youth champion, has played a major role in causing the departure of two leading names; her win over Andreea Dragoman meant that Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling, the no.3 seed, did not progress to the main draw.
Defeat for Adriana Diaz but Latin American hopes are still alive; Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi rose to the challenge, the no.7 seed, she caused somewhat of a surprise by beating Serbia’s Sabina Surjan, the no.5 seed (12-10, 12-10, 11-6, 14-12).
Success contrary to expectations for both Ning Jing and Bruna Takahashi; it was the same for Andreea Dragoman and Russia’s Mariia Tailakova. The defeat the previous evening was resigned to history, the no.13 seed, Andreea Dragoman overcame Poland’s Anna Wegrzyn, the no.11 seed (11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9) to reserve her last eight place.
Meanwhile, Mariia Tailakova, unbeaten in the initial group phase, continued her winning ways; the no.24 seed, she overcame the Czech Republic’s Zdena Blaskova, the no.17 seed (11-9, 2-11, 11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 5-11, 11-2).
Four surprise outcomes, in the four remaining first round Women’s Singles matches, the results were as status advised.
Japan’s Miu Hirano, the top seed, beat Italy’s Jamila Laurenti, the no.19 seed (11-1, 12-10, 11-2, 11-7), China’s Sun Yingsha, the no.2 seed, overcame DPR Korea’s Pyong Song Gyong, the no.32 seed (11-3, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8).
Impressive performances, likewise Amy Wang of the United States, the no.9 seed, prevailed in opposition to Singapore’s Goi Rui Yan, the no.21 seed (7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6); India’s Archana Girish Kamath, the no.6 seed, ended the hopes of Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee, the no.8 seed, in what proved to be the closest match of the round (14-12, 14-12, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 15-13).
“Lee Ya Kee is a very good player so I’m extremely happy to have won this match. The match was very close; she fought for every point till the end. In the match I just tried to play my game, took some risks, there were points when she played really well.” Archana Girish Kamath
At the quarter-final stage Miu Hirano meets Mariia Tailakova, Amy Wang faces Andreea Dragoman; in the opposite half of the draw, Ning Jing confronts Archana Girish Kamath, Bruna Takahashi opposes Sun Yingsha.
