by Ian Marshall, Editor
Imposing from Ami Shirayama; however if there was one nation to attract the attention it was Russia; Svetlana Dmitrenko, Karina Korzunova and Alina Zavarykina all secured first places in their respective groups contrary to expectations, before recording opening round wins.
Determination evident, Svetlana Dmitrenko and Alina Zavarykina both damped the aspirations of the United States. Svetlana Dmitrenko beat Purvi Soni (11-4, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7), Alina Zavarykina accounted for Sabrina Zhu (8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 14-12, 11-13, 11-2). Meanwhile, for Karina Korzunova, it was success against the host nation; she ended the hopes of Sweden’s Hanna Holgersson (11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10).
Hard fought contest, for the leading names it was very much a day to watch and wait; the top ten seeds all receiving direct entries to the second round. However, for two notable names required to compete in the opening round, having not been required to compete in the group stage, there were testing times.
Both involved England; Denise Payet, the no.11 seed, eventually overcame Sweden’s Nina Johansson (11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5), whilst colleague, Jasmin Wong came so close to causing an upset when facing Hungary’s Daria Helga. She extended the no.16 seed, the full distance (7-11, 11-3, 12-10, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4).
Play in the junior girls’ singles event concludes on Thursday 21st February.
