by Ian Marshall, Editor

In her opening match of the day, she beat China’s Liu Jing, the no.2 seed (11-6, 11-5, 11-4) a player whose record stands alongside the very best; amongst her many achievements, commencing in 2008 in Beijing she has won gold at the most recent three Paralympic Games.

Confident, Catia da Silva Oliveira accounted for Florence Gossiaux-Sireau of France (11-7, 11-6, 11-7) to secure first place in the group. Earlier Liu Jing had beaten Florence Gossiaux-Sireau (11-4, 11-9, 11-5) and thus claimed second position, most importantly progress to the main draw. In the corresponding group, Italy’s Giada Rossi, the top seed, duly gained top spot to reserve her semi-final place where she meets Liu Jing; an interesting contest beckons.

Andela Muzinic

Defeat for Liu Jing, in women’s singles class 3, there was also defeat for her colleague, Xue Juan, gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, she was beaten by Croatia’s Andela Muzinic (7-11, 11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-7).

Andela Muzinic duly remained unbeaten to top the group, for Xue Juan it was runners up spot. In the adjacent group it was first place for Sweden’s Anna-Carin Ahlquist without due alarm.

Highly seeded experience defeat

Major upsets in the women’s singles events; it was the same in the men’s singles competition.

Notably, in class 1 the top two seeds both experienced defeat and had to settle for second group places. Great Britain’s Tom Matthews, the top seed, lost to Korea Republic’s Lim Seeun (11-6, 11-5, 11-7); Park Sungjoo, also from the Korea Republic, the no.2 seed, experienced defeat at the hands of Italy’s Andrea Borgato (11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6). Lim Seeun and Andrea Borgato duly remained unbeaten to secure first places.

Likewise situation

Similarly, in class 6 there was disappointment for Great Britain. David Wetherill, the no.2 seed, was beaten by Russia’s Mars Gabdullin (11-8, 11-6, 12-10) and had to settle for runners up spot; a fate that also befell China’s Liao Keli in class 7. He was beaten by Germany’s Bjoern Schnake (11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5).

Mars Gabdullin and Bjoern Schnake secured first places without a loss to their name.

Otherwise for the very top names it was day of success; play in the individual events concludes on Saturday 2nd November.

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