by Ian Marshall, Editor

Tatsiana Chakavaya beat Ukraine’s Anastasiya Yepifantseva (11-5, 12-10, 11-1), Darya Kisel overcame Poland’s Julia Szymczak (14-12, 11-5, 5-11, 12-10), whilst Mahartya Baltushite accounted for Russia’s Raisa Shiryaeva (11-5, 11-7, 11-6).

Fine performances and there were others who impressed. Starting the day as the lowest rated in their respective groups, China was very much in evidence.

New to the international scene Guo Riuchen beat Russia’s Daria Chernoray (11-4, 11-7, 11-8), He Alge defeated Anastasia Komova (11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10). Similarly, Zhang Jieling ended the hopes of the Korea Republic’s Kim Yedam (11-7, 12-10, 11-3), a win of some note; in 2017 Kim Yedam reached the semi-final stage of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event in Belgium.

Conversely, for Korea Republic, Kang Gayun, also new to the international stage, beat England’s Emily Bolton by the very narrowest of margins (11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9). Likewise, Russia’s Daria Chernova and Japan’s Miku Izumo both raised the eyebrows. Daria Chernova accounted for Slovakia’s Natalia Grigelova (18-16, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7), Miku Izomo overcame Finland’s Anna Kirichenko (11-5, 13-11, 11-8).

In the Under 21 Women’s Singles event, players finishing in first places in each of the 14 groups plus two players “Lucky Losers” drawn at random from those who concluded matters in second place, advance to the main draw where they join the 16 seeds.

The second and third series of matches in the group stage of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event will be played later in the evening.