The no.48 seed, after recording an opening round success in opposition to Bulgaria’s 28 years old Polona Trifonova, the no.50 seed (11-6, 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9), she ousted the Czech Republic’s 30 year old Hana Matelova, the no.6 seed.
Most impressively, keeping mind, body and soul together when pressure mounted, the teenager recovered from a three games to one deficit to record a quite stunning full distance victory (12-10, 7-11, 7-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8).
Success for a young player very much at the start of an international journey, likewise against the odds there was success a rather more mature name. Born and raised in Cuba before changing allegiance to Mexico, now 35 years old, Yadira Silva, the no.30 seed, halted to progress of Hana Matelova’s erstwhile doubles partner, Slovakia’s 38 years of age Barbora Balazova, the no.7 seed (6-11, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6).
Quarter-final upsets; otherwise in the search for semi-final places it was success for the favouriites.
Britt Eerland of the Netherlands, the top seed, beat Thailand’s Orawan Paranang, the no.35 seed (11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-6), Ukraine’s Margaryta Pesotska, the no.2 seed, defeated Great Britain’s Tin-Tin Ho, the no.30 seed (11-6, 6-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5).
Similarly, Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.3 seed, accounted for Sweden’s Stina Källberg (11-3, 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9); Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin, the no.4 seed, prevailed against Daria Trigolos of Belarus, the no.24 seed (11-5, 11-4, 11-4, 11-6), Russia’s Polina Mikhailova, the no.5 seed, proved too safe and secure in defence for India’s Sutirtha Mukherjee, the 21 seed (10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5).
Progress for Polina Mikhailova, it was the same for her compatriot; Yana Noskova, the no.8 seed, prevailed in opposition to the Czech Republic’s Karin Adamkova (13-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9).
The semi-finals and finals of each of the four women’s singles knock-out competitions will be enacted on Monday 15th March.
