30 Oct 2022

A first round exit in the Women’s Singles event earlier in the proceedings, on Thursday 20th December at the 2018 United States Open in Orlando, it was better news for the host nation’s Lin Jiaqi.

No current world ranking, thus not seeded, she won the Junior Girls’ Singles title.

by Ian Marshall, Editor

In an event where the host nation dominated proceedings and commanded all three step of the podium; after accounting for Faith Tung (12-10, 11-2, 11-9) and Rachel Sung (11-9, 12-10, 11-3), Lin Jiaqi secured the title at the final expense of Tiffany Ke in a full distance five games encounter (12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7).

Imposing wins from Lin Jiaqi in the latter rounds on her journey to the final; for Tiffany Ke life was more exacting. She needed four games to overcome Joanna Sung at the quarter-final stage (11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9), prior to being extended the full distance by Swathi Giri (5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5).

Bronze for Rachel Sung, in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event it was gold, the 14 year old accounted for colleague Faith Tung in the final (11-6, 11-9, 11-5), having reserved her place in the title decider courtesy of success in opposition to Swathi Giri (11-2, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7). In the counterpart semi-final, Faith Tung had ended the progress of Puerto Rico’s Brianna Burgos (11-2, 12-10, 11-8).

Success for Lin Jiaqi and for Rachel Sung; also on the fourth day of action there was notable success for Angie Tran and Emily Tran; they won both the Junior Girls’ Doubles and Cadet Girls’ Doubles events. In all host nation finals, in the former at the final hurdle they beat Wang Yi Miao and Tiffany Ke (11-6, 11-9, 11-7), in the latter they accounted for Neha Saju and Faith Tung (11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8).

Play concludes in Orlando on Saturday 22nd December.

2018 United States Open: Seeding and Results

2018 United States Open: Feature articles by Matt Hetherington and Richard Finn

2018 United States Open Rachel Sung Lin Jiaqi