by Ian Marshall, Editor
Defeat for Germany against the odds but there was the reverse scenario; both Gerrit Engemann and Meng Fanbo caused surprises, whilst Tobias Hippler and Dennis Klein progressed as anticipated.
Notably Meng Fanbo overcame Japan’s Yukiya Uda, the no.13 seed (11-8, 11-5, 11-13, 10-12, 11-8), Gerrit Engemann accounted for Belgium’s Florian Cnudde, the no.10 seed (8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5). Meanwhile, Tobias Hippler, the no.8 seed emerged successful against the Czech Republic’s Patrik Klos (6-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5); Dennis Klein ended the hopes of Italy’s Chen Shuainan (11-8, 11-7, 11-8).
“I played great against the Japanese player. He had some problems with my service and I managed to go two-zero up in games. After he received better and played more aggressive. In the fifth set I stayed calm and won the match. This is my first tournament after my junior career; it’s great to already obtain victories against higher ranked players. Now I can play without any pressure.” Meng Fanbo
Success for Meng Fanbo and Gerrit Engemann contrary to expectations; they were not alone.
Likewise in the top half of the draw, in addition to Aoto Asazu, Italy’s Jordy Piccolin beat Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes, the no.24 seed (12-10, 13-11, 10-12, 7-11, 11-7), Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin accounted for the host nation’s Thibaut Darcis (12-14, 12-10, 11-4, 11-7). Also in form, Nicolas Tito of the United States overcame Slovakia’s Samuel Kaluzny (9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 15-13, 11-9); Korea Republic’s An Jaehyun ended the hopes of the Czech Republic’s Stanislav Kucera (11-9, 11-5, 11-5).
Similarly, in the lower half of the draw, Chinese Taipei’s Li Hsin-Yang prevailed against England’s Tom Jarvis, the no.17 seed (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-1), Japan’s Kakeru Sone ended the ambitions of Hong Kong’s Kwan Man Ho (9-11, 7-11, 13-11, 12-10, 11-2). Not to be left out, in a similar manner, Belgium’s Laurens Devos ousted Sweden’s Simon Soderlund, the no.27 seed (7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6) to very much add a layer of icing to the cake.
Upsets but not for the leading names; Ng Pak Nam, the top seed and like Kwan Man Ho from Hong Kong, beat Italy’s Matteo Mutti (6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-2), Korea Republic’s Cho Seungmin, the no.2 seed, ousted Su Zhi, also from Hong Kong (12-10, 12-10, 11-4). Impressive performances, it was the same from Hungary’s Bence Majoros, the no.3 seed, who accounted for Frenchman Irvin Bertrand (11-5, 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9), as it was for Austria’s Andreas Levenko, the no.4 seed, who ended the hopes of Australia’s Lin Xuqi (11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4).
Success and no doubt delighted to progress but the most pleased of all would appear to be Romania’s Rares Sipos, the no.6 seed, recovering strongly from a previous day’s defeat. He accounted for Frenchman, Lilian Bardet (11-5, 12-10, 12-14, 11-6).
“I was disappointed after my loss against Simon Arvidsson. Now I focus on the Under 21 competition. Many good players are present in the tournament. I know that I am one of the favourites but the road is still long. I am taking it match by match.” Rares Sipos
The second and third rounds of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event will be played later in the day.
