by Ian Marshall, Editor
Success for Ignacio Torres but earlier in the day, had experienced defeat at the hands of colleague, Matias Pino Llorca, the no.2 seed (11-9, 11-7, 11-4); Matias Pino Llorca ended the day the only unbeaten player in the group.
A surprise defeat for the pre-tournament favourite; in the remaining Men’s Singles standing category events, all organized in two phases, a group stage followed by knock-out, there were no such travails for top seeds but there were surprises.
In Class 7, the respective top three names, Czech Republic’s Daniel Horhut alongside Japan’s Masachika Inoue and Takuya Shibasaki all secured first group places; however, for Zbynek Lambert, like Daniel Horhut from the Czech Republic and the no.4 seed, it was second place. He was beaten by Venezuela’s Jean-Pierre Gonzalez (13-11, 10-12, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8).
Similarly, in Class 8 it was second position for Japan’s Arufuahirokazu Tateishi, the no. 3 seed and for Canada’s Ian Kent, the no.4 seed. Arufuahirokazu Tateishi was beaten by Brazil’s Francisco de Melo (7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4), Ian Kent suffered at the hands of Costa Rica’s Steven Roman (11-6, 11-7, 11-8). Similar to Jean-Pierre Gonzalez, Francisco de Melo and Steven Roman remained unbeaten.
Impressive from Francisco de Melo, it was the same from colleague Lucas Dos Santos in Class 9; he secured first place in his group, beating the Czech Republic’s David Pulpan, the no.2 seed (2-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9). It was to prove the only defeat for David Pulpan; thus second place in the group and progress to the main draw was achieved. Russia’s Iuri Nozdrunov, the top seed duly secured first place in his group without alarm.
Meanwhile, in Class 10, the notable name to experience defeat was Chile’s Manuel Echaveguren, the no.4 seed. He was beaten by Colombia’s Alvaro Puerto (8-11, 11-6, 11-1, 11-7) and had to settle for second place behind his nemesis. The Czech Republic’s Ivan Karabec, Brazil’s Claudio Massad and Russia’s Vladimir Glazov, the respective top three seeds, duly reserved first group places.
Play in the individual events concludes on Thursday 6th December.
2018 Copa Costa Rica Para Open: Latest Results and Main Event Draws