by Ian Marshall, Editor

Notably, in the group stage he caused a major upset, he accounted for Russia’s Iuri Nozdrunov, the top seed and silver medallist at last year’s World Para Championships in Lasko. Impressively, Ashley Facey Thompson prevailed in four games (11-3, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8).

Defeat for Iuri Nozdrunov, it was his second reverse of the day, third place his lot and elimination. Earlier he had suffered at the hands of Ukraine’s Lev Kats (8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 12-10); second place was to be the end result for Lev Kats, in the concluding match in the group he was beaten by Ashley Facey Thompson (11-4, 11-7, 11-4).

Defeat for Iuri Nozdrunov in the group stage, it was the same for two further top seeded players in the men’s singles event. In class 1-2, Ukraine’s Oleksandr Yezyk lost to Frenchman Stéphane Molliens (15-13, 7-11, 1-11, 11-8, 11-7); it was the only defeat for Oleksandr Yezyk, Stéphane Molliens remained unbeaten, both progressed to the main draw.

Similarly but with a different eventual outcome, in class 3, Germany’s Thomas Brüchle was beaten by Japan’s Shinichi Yoshida (11-8, 3-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5); both advanced to the main draw where there was a change of fortunes. At the quarter-final stage, Shinichi Yoshida lost to Ukraine’s Vasyl Petrunov (11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6); conversely, Thomas Brüchle accounted for Thailand’s Anurak Laowong (11-8, 11-7, 11-8).

Defeats for top seeds, there was one similar casualty in the women’s singles events; in class 6, Ukraine’s Maryna Lytovchenko was beaten by Korea Republic’s Lee Kunwoo (11-6. 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6). It was the only defeat for Maryna Lytovchenko thus she progressed to the main draw in second place; Lee Kunwoo remained unbeaten to top the group.

Otherwise, although hard fought encounters, for the top seeds it was a day of success; play in the individual events concludes on Friday 2nd August.

2019 Para Japan Open: Draws and Latest Results