by Ian Marshall, Editor
China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, the no.4 seeds, duly fulfilled expectations, they recorded a three-nil success against Nigeria’s Azeez Solanke and Esther Oribamese; the response to the question was answered in the positive by Italy.
Occupying the no.16 position, Matteo Mutti and Jamila Laurenti overcame Germany’s Cedric Meissner and Franziska Schreiner, the 19 seeds, by two matches to one. Jamila Laurenti gave her team the perfect start by beating Franziska Schreiner (15-13, 11-6, 11-8), before Matteo Mutti increased the lead by overcoming Cédric Meissner (7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5). The result decided, the crumb of consolation for the German duo was the fact they won the doubles (11-8, 13-11, 11-6).
Main draw places at stake, Romania’s Cristian Pletea and Andreea Dragoman, the no.9 seeds, made their reservation by overcoming the combination of Australia’s Ben Gould and Fiji’s Grace Rosi Yee, the no.23 seeds, by three matches to nil. First place secured, second position finished in the hands of Kanak Jha and Any Wang of the United States, the no.5 seeds, who earlier in the day had suffered a two-one defeat at the hands of the Romanians. Similarly the United States duo concluded their initial phase fixtures in emphatic style. They recorded a three-nil win in opposition to New Zealand’s Nathan Xu and Vong Hui Ling, the no.25 seeds.
Meanwhile, as the second session of play progressed, the European combination of Sweden’s Truls Moregard and Serbia’s Sabina Surjan, the no.3 seeds, alongside DPR Korea’s Pyon Song Gyong and Kim Song Gun, the no.32 seeds, were already assured of main draw places both having the previous day remained unbeaten.
The decision to be made is as to who would secure first position; Europe gained the verdict. A two matches to one success was the verdict.
Sabina Surjan set her team on the road to victory by beating Pyon Song Gyong (11-5, 11-13, 11-2, 11-8), before Truls Moregard assured the outcome by overcoming Kim Song Gun (11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6). Just as with Cédric Meissner and Franziska Schreiner there was consolation for Kim Song Gun and Pyon Song Gyong; they secured the doubles in straight games (11-6, 11-5, 11-8).
Play in the initial phase of the Mixed Team event concludes later in the evening.
