by Ian Marshall, Editor
Yadira Silva, the no.9 seed, beat Chile’s Paulina Vega, the no.7 seed in an encounter that ebbed and flowed (7-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5), the success coming after both Lily Zhang of the United States and Brazil’s Gui Lin had reserved quarter-final places in most imposing fashions.
Lily Zhang, the no.5 seed, beat Guatemala’s Mabelyn Enriquez, the no.10 seed, in straight games (11-4, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6); in one game more, Gui Lin, the no.6 seed, ousted the Dominican Republic’s Yasiris Ortiz, the no.12 seed (7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-2, 11-8).
Comfortable wins, it was very different for Alberto Mino, the no.6 seed, he caused the Dominican Republic more grief. He needed the full seven games to end the hopes of Samuel Galvez (11-8, 11-2, 10-12, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-3
“I was feeling really good in the first two games; then I became passive. He became confident, he was good with the first attack, good in the counter topspin rallies. I lost three games in a row, all close. After the fifth game I returned service using the banana technique. I played more aggressively, stronger on the first ball and I played with more spin. In the seventh game I got a good start, I led 5-1 and it made the difference.” Alberto Miño
A tough test for the Ecuadorian but as has happened so often in the past when crisis loomed he remained first and resolute; his mental strength shone through.
