by Calvin Koh
Fresh from her maiden WTT Youth Series win in Italy last week, the 15-year-old Singaporean remains unbeaten in Slovakia. She topped her group five standing with identical 3-0 wins over India’s Sayali Rajesh Wani and Czech Republic’s Tereza Bartova before taking down Belarus’ Veranika Varabyova 3-0 (11-5, 11-4, 11-1) and local hope Ema Cincurova 3-1 (11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8) in the Round of 32 and Round of 16.
Ser faces a stern test with India’s Ghorpade lying in wait. Like Ser, Ghorpade is also chasing her second WTT Youth Series title win after her breakthrough at WTT Youth Contender Tunis in September.
Ghorpade has yet to lose a match at WTT Youth Contender Senec so far. Her campaign got off to a good start with victory over Puerto Rica’s Edmarie Leon Burgos 3-0 (11-9, 11-1, 11-6) and Spain’s Silvia Coll 3-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6).
After receiving a bye for the Round of 32, she resumed her title-chasing run with a convincing 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 12-10) win over the Czech Republic’s Helena Sommerova in the Round of 16.
Germany’s Lea Lachenmayer and Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi face off each other in the other quarter-final after triumphing in their respective Round of 16 clashes.
Lachenmayer fought back gallantly from two games down before eventually prevailing over Brazil’s Laura Watanabe 3-2 (5-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3,11- 9). Takahashi also had to stage a comeback from 2-1 games down before dispatching Spain’s Eugenia Sastre 3-2 (11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 13-11, 13-11) to reach the quarter-final.
Ireland’s Sophie Earley will take on Singapore’s Zhou Jingyi for a place in the semi-final whilst Puerto Rico’s Brianna Burgos and Spain’s Ainhoa Cristobal clash in the last eight.
Day two of the competition at WTT Youth Contender Senec welcomes group fixtures from the Under-11, Under-15 and Under-19 Girls’ Singles, with the day’s highlights being the Under-13 and Under-17 Girls’ Singles finals.
For more information on WTT Youth Contender Senec, click here.
