Anton Kallberg in celebratory mood
Claiming a noteworthy scalp against Japan’s Maharu Yoshimura (11-3, 11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4), Sweden’s Anton Källberg is feeling positive heading into the main event:
“I had played him once before and clearly lost. From my side it was a strong performance today. Maharu didn’t play at his top level… and gave me a lot of chances. He can usually play better. Tomorrow I hope I can win two or three games, depending on who I play.” Anton Källberg
Vladi powers through
Men’s Singles: Preliminary Round Four
Belarusian legend Vladimir Samsonov, 43, has successfully negotiated the qualification tournament in Bremen, producing a straight games victory over Austria’s Stefan Fegerl (12-10, 11-3, 11-9, 14-12) to extend his stay in the German city. Four years Vladi’s junior, Greek defender Panagiotis Gionis will also take his place in the main draw after holding off a brave challenge from Can Akkuzu of France (11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6).
Kazakhstan representation confirmed
Men’s Singles: Preliminary Round Four
Kirill Gerassimenko will take his place in the men’s singles Round of 32 and thus Kazakhstan’s representation at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open is ensured. Taking on Brazilian player Thiago Monteiro in the final round of qualifying, Gerassimenko needed just five games to secure his spot in the main event (12-10, 11-9, 11-9, 2-11, 11-8).
Over on table 6 Denmark’s Jonathan Groth required a mighty comeback effort to come good against Harmeet Desai of India 4-3 (6-11, 12-14, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-2).
Gu Yuting is out!
Women’s Singles: Preliminary Round Four
Well, would you believe it? Gu Yuting won’t be appearing in the draw for the women’s singles competition after suffering a convincing 4-0 defeat at the hands of fellow Chinese representative Wang Yidi (11-2, 11-7, 15-13, 11-6). However, it may not be the greatest of shocks with Wang Yidi also winning their only previous meeting at this year’s Hungarian Open in January.
Elsewhere, India’s Manika Batra has earned an impressive win over Slovak opponent Barbora Balazova to seal her spot in the Round of 32 (10-12, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9) and Ukraine’s Margaryta Pesotska has edged a seven-game affair against Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi (9-11, 11-4, 3-11, 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8).
Main draw awaits Swedish leader
Sweden’s leading player in the women’s game, Matilda Ekholm has successfully qualified for the women’s singles Round of 32 following a 4-1 victory at the expense of Korea Republic’s Lee Zion (11-9, 12-10, 19-17, 7-11, 11-9).
“The most difficult thing for me was that she is such a good player. Even when I played good balls, she did even better. I had to stay on top of my level throughout the whole match. I had a big advantage in my service. She couldn’t receive it so well and at the end of the tight games she was even more nervous when she had to receive. Like this I could score some easy points when I served. So, I had to win only one time when she served.” Matilda Ekholm
European defensive stars bid farewell
Women’s Singles: Preliminary Round Four
Li Jie and 2018 European champion Li Qian have fallen short in their quest to reach the 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open women’s singles main draw: the defensive specialists from the Netherlands and Poland experienced elimination in preliminary round four with China’s Qian Tianyi (12-14, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8) and Liu Fei (11-7, 6-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9) moving through in their place.
Harimoto and Hayata looking a threat
Mixed Doubles: Preliminary Round Two
Always major contenders in the race for silverware, Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata could well be a threat in the mixed doubles event after successfully booking their spot in the main draw with a dominant showing against Poland’s Jakub Dyjas and Natalia Partyka (11-7, 11-9, 11-9).
“I am in very good shape here in Bremen. Everything fits for me here. Hina and I are playing the fourth tournament as a mixed doubles pair and we harmonise better and better. In the third game, we were way behind, but then we started our comeback. We ourselves made fewer mistakes than before and attacked more. These were the decisive points.” Tomokazu Harimoto
Defeat for one Polish duo but for another it was the opposite outcome with Marek Bodowski and Natalia Bajor getting the better of USA’s Kanak Jha and Wu Yue (11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 13-11).
Belgians steal the show!
Men’s Doubles: Preliminary Round One
If the 4:25pm session belonged to any one nation it was surely Belgium with all four of the country’s representatives emerging victorious in men’s doubles action.
The all-Belgian pair of Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet fought back from a 1-2 deficit to see off Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro and Gustavo Tsuboi 3-2 (11-7, 6-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8). Cedric Nuytinck combined well with Poland’s Jakub Dyjas to beat the English duo of Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford (12-10, 3-11, 11-6, 11-7) while the other Belgian to appear, Robin Devos partnered Finland’s Benedek Olah to victory over India’s Amalraj Anthony and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (14-16, 13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8).
“I just asked him if we could play together and he thought, yes, we could try. This is already our fourth tournament together. We’ve been two times in the semi-final in Qatar and in Sweden. For the moment it is working quite well. We have good timing, playing very good tactically. That was the key to our success also today. I hope it’ll be a good match against Ionescu and Robles tomorrow, too.” Jakub Dyjas
In it for fun
Puerto Rican teenage star Adriana Diaz and Romanian stalwart Elizabeta Samara have been talking to the press following their women’s doubles preliminary round one victory over France’s Stephanie Loeuillette and Yuan Jia Nan (12-10, 6-11, 11-3, 11-7). The mixed association pair are through to the main draw but are adamant, above all else, to enjoy themselves on the table:
“This is the first time that we are playing together. We mainly wanted to enjoy it. There was no special tactic in the beginning on our side. Once we were in the game we started to feel good. We have known each other since I was a small kid, we are friends. Elizabeta knows my dad, contacted him and offered to play doubles with me. We thought it was a very good idea and it turns out now that it really was.” Adriana Diaz
“We are in the main draw now. Anything can happen. We mainly want to have fun!” Elizabeta Samara
Disappointment for German partnerships
Women’s Doubles: Preliminary Round One
German fans at the ÖVB-Arena in Bremen were left with an air of disappointment in the 3.45pm session of play after witnessing both host nation partnerships on display exit the women’s doubles qualification tournament.
Han Ying and Shan Xiaona ended up on the wrong side of a five-game thriller against Singapore’s Lin Ye and Zeng Jian (9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6) while the outlook for Chantal Mantz and Wan Yuan was also unfortunate, falling to India’s Manika Batra and Archana Girish Kamath 3-1 (11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6).
Simon Gauzy survives scare
French star Simon Gauzy has reacted to his narrow 4-3 win against German opponent Qiu Dang – here’s what he had to say:
Up-and-coming Chinese stars eliminated
Men’s Singles: Preliminary Round Three
Men’s singles runner-up at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Bulgaria Open, but China’s Zhao Zihao won’t be replicating that feat in Bremen after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Brazil’s Gustavo Tsuboi (13-11, 11-9, 11-8, 15-17, 11-4). There were similar scenes over on table 6 as China experienced another exit with Sun Wen losing out to the host nation’s Steffen Mengel (11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7).
Captivating day in Bremen
Fans have been treated to compelling action throughout the course of the day so far – which result catches your eye the most?
Freitas proceeds, Assar withdraws
Men’s Singles: Preliminary Round Three
Portuguese player Marcos Freitas has gone on to the final qualifying stages after beating Czech Republic’s Lubomir Jancarik 4-1 (11-2, 11-6, 12-10, 5-11, 11-6).
Unfortunately for Egyptian fans, Omar Assar has been forced to withdraw from the German Open due to injury, sending Sweden’s Anton Källberg through after playing just one game in their match.
In-form Aruna and Youngsik move on
Men’s Singles: Preliminary Round Three
Nigerian fan-favourite Quadri Aruna was in supreme form as he took on Bence Majoros in the penultimate qualifying round here in Bremen, needing only 27 minutes to record a 4-0 win (11-8, 11-9, 11-4, 13-11).
Over on table 2, Jeoung Youngsik was having a superb showing of his talent as he wrapped up his victory over the host nation’s Bastian Steger in straight games (11-8, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8). The Korea Republic athlete had nearly the same points won on his serve as he did on his opponents – displaying his all-round play.
German star reflects on winning performance
Eliminating Japan’s Saki Shibata from the women’s singles qualification campaign in Bremen (11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10), Germany’s Shan Xiaona is understandably thrilled with how she performed in front of the home crowd in the 11.20am session:
“Before the match I had thought that two games won would be great. After all, my opponent is very strong. Now, of course, I’m very happy about the victory. I’m in good shape and my head is always clear – no matter what the score!” Shan Xiaona
Batra progresses; Party ends for Natalia
Women’s Singles: Preliminary Round Three
Indian Manika Batra has moved on to the final round of qualifying, defeating Serbian Anelia Lupulesku in straight games (11-6, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8). Sadly for Poland’s Natalia Partyka, the journey ended at the German Open with a loss to Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto, who took 41 minutes to win 4-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7).
Japanese women make hay in the sun
Women’s Singles: Preliminary Round Three
The morning here in Bremen was one of sunshine for the Japanese athletes as both Miyu Kato and Haruna Ojio made the final qualifying round.
Miyu Kato was up against the ever-improving Korea Republican Shin Yubin, but needed no more than 44 minutes to record a 4-1 win (11-7, 11-7 ,11-7, 10-12, 11-8). Ojio, on table 10, had her hands full against Serbia’s Sabina Surjan who took the first game to make things interesting. Eventually, the teenager from Japan was able to turn things around and reach the next round with a 4-1 win (6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6, 11-6).
First time as a pair, just as deadly as anticipated
Here’s what China’s Xu Xin and Sun Yingsha had to say after winning their first mixed doubles match as a pair against Singapore’s Clarence Chew and Lin Ye (11-7, 11-4, 11-4):
“Even though it was a 3-0 win it wasn’t a perfect match from my part. I could have focused a little more to avoid mistakes every now and then.” Xu Xin
“We were partnering here for the first time. I value the opportunity to play with him very much. We didn’t manage to practice together before we came to Bremen but as Xu has plenty of experience in doubles and mixed doubles, he could teach me a lot about his strategy, e.g. how and where to move.” Sun Yingsha
Thailand exacts revenge on India
Mixed Doubles: Preliminary Round One
Suthasini Sawettabut and Padasak Tanviriyavechakul caused a minor upset as they managed to see off Indian pairing Manika Batra and Sharath Kamal Achanta in straight games (12-10, 11-4, 14-12).
The duo from Thailand had a lot to show after having seen their athletes lose out to Indian opposition in the singles qualifying matches. It was an display with plenty of grit as they fought over every point. Meanwhile, rising Chinese star Wang Chuqin partnered with Wang Manyu to reach the next round by defeating Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz and Daniel Gonzalez 3-1 (11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8).
Motivation to reach the main draw? You bet!
Flore-Gasnier kick-start French mornings
Mixed Doubles: Preliminary Round One
The French pairing of Tristan Flore and Laura Gasnier displayed a power-packed performance convincing fans of their targets. Facing off against Argentina’s Gaston Alto and Candela Molero, it took only three games for the Europeans to establish their victory (11-6, 11-4, 11-1).
Meanwhile, Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata were similarly at ease against Romania’s Cristian Pletea and Elizabeta Samara. Taking no more than 27 minutes, the Asian duo won the match 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-8).
