by Ian Marshall, Editor

Eight groups in the men’s singles event, five produced names not anticipated to secure first places; in the women’s singles event, the carnage was even more pronounced. Just one of the groups, when the day concluded, witnessed the highest rated player in top spot. The distinction was gained by Venezuela’s Neridee Niño.

In the first phase of the men’s singles event Ecuador’s Rodrigo Tapia and Chile’s Nicolas Burgos alongside Argentina’s Santiago Lorenzo, Martin Bentancor and Lucas Bayona; all players who possess no current men’s world ranking, ended the day unbeaten and in first places.

The only players to secure first positions as predicted were Francisco Sanchi, also from Argentina, Peru’s Rodrigo Hidalgo and Chile’s Manuel Moya.

Meanwhile, in the women’s singles event, Brazil’s Livia Lima, Guilia Takahashi and Laura Watanabe alongside Peru’s Francesca Vargas, similarly with no current women’s world rankings, topped their groups as did Paraguay’s Leyla Gomez and Venezuela’s Lisa Palacios. They started play as the second highest rated in their particular group.

Surprises, it was the same in both the men’s doubles and women’s doubles events as play advanced to the semi-final round. At the men’s doubles quarter-final stage in the lower half of the draw, Argentina’s Gaston Alto and Nicolas Galvano, the no.2 seeds, lost to Chile’s Manuel Moya and Andres Martinez, the no.11 seeds (11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-6); similarly, Venezuela’s Cecilio Correa and Jan Medina, the no.4 seeds, suffered at the hands of Argentina’s Francisco Sanchi and Santiago Lorenzo, the no.9 seeds (13-11, 5-11, 11-2, 7-11, 11-7).

Likewise, in the top half of the women’s doubles draw, at the quarter-final stage there were upsets. Chile’s Judith Morales and Paulina Vega, the top seeds, lost to Giulia Takahashi and Laura Watanabe (11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10); Argentina’s Camila Arguelles and Ana Codina, the no.3 seeds, departed at the hands of Paraguay’s Leyla Gomez and Lucero Ovelar, the no.9 seeds (11-9, 11-8, 11-9).

Notably in the opposite halves of the draw status prevailed. In the men’s doubles Ecuador’s Alberto Miño and Emilian Riofrio, the top seeds, booked their semi-final place as did Chile’s Nicolas Burgos and Felipe Olivares, the no.3 seeds.

In a similar manner in the women’s doubles, Colombia’s Paula Medina and Maria Perdomo, the no.2 seeds advanced to the penultimate round, a situation that applied also to Chile’s Daniela Ortega and Valentina Rios, the no.3 seeds.

The semi-finals and finals of both the men’s doubles and women’s doubles events will be played on Sunday 7th April.

South American Championships – Schedule

South American Championships: Schedule of Play (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships – Seeding

South American Championships: Men’s Team & Women’s Team – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships: Men’s Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)
South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships: Men’s Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)
South American Championships: Women’s Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)
South American Championships: Mixed Doubles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships: Under 21 Men’s Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)
South American Championships: Under 21 Women’s Singles – Seeding (Wednesday 3rd April)

South American Championships – Draws & Results – Individual Events

South American Championships: Men’s Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 5th April)
South American Championships: Men’s Singles – Main Draw (Saturday 6th April)

South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Stage One – Results (Friday 5th April)
South American Championships: Women’s Singles – Main Draw (Saturday 6th April)

South American Championships: Men’s Doubles – Main Draw – Results (Friday 5th April)
South American Championships: Women’s Doubles – Main Draw – Results (Friday 5th April)
South American Championships: Mixed Doubles – Main Draw (Saturday 6th April)

South American Championships: Under 21 Men’s Singles – Main Draw – Results (Friday 5th April)
South American Championships: Under 21 Women’s Singles – Main Draw – Results (Friday 5th April)

South American Championships – Results – Team Events

South American Championships: Men’s Team – Complete Results (Thursday 4th April)
South American Championships: Women’s Team – Complete Results (Thursday 4th April)