Almost one year since Tomokazu HARIMOTO (JPN) became the youngest ever World Tour Champion the young Japanese superstar is set to return to the venue which saw him make history. He will look to defend his Men’s Singles title at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Czech Open which begins today 23 August till 26 August 2018 in Olomouc Czech Republic.
Now aged 15 while still considered a teenager HARIMOTO has established himself as a regular on the ITTF World Tour and has since added the 2018 Japan Open title to his list of honors. The second seed will face Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC in the opening round before a potential rematch with Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) in the next.
On the other end top seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) is set to face 2012 Czech Open semifinalist Taku TAKAKIWA (JPN) in the opening round. He will be hoping to hit top form as we approach the tail end of the 2018 ITTF World Tour. With the likes of MA Long (CHN) XU Xin (CHN) & Timo BOLL (GER) who are missing from the event it will be a good for those who are still looking to qualify for the million-dollar World Tour Grand Finals to rack up some points.
In the Women’s Singles Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) once again start the event as the top seed with compatriots Mima ITO Miu HIRANO Sato HITOMI & Hina HAYATA rounding up the top 5. Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA is the highest seed from Europe and joining her are Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) Matilda EKHOLM (SWE) LI Qian (POL) Bernadette SZOC (ROU) and home favorite Hana MATELOVA.
2017 Czech Open Champion ITO will want to turn things around after suffering a disappointing round of 32 exit in Panagyurishte at the Bulgaria Open last week. In her way stands China’s ZHANG Rui who is also looking to avoid another early defeat. Interestingly she will be the second highest ranked women Chinese player in the main draw despite only being 78 in the world after world number 64 WANG Yidi.
The Czech Open is the tenth stop on the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour and the fifth of six Regular events on the ITTF World Tour. Together with the six Platinum ITTF World Tour events players compete to earn World Tour Standings points to be one of top 16 to qualify for the one-million-dollar World Tour Grand Finals in December.
Main draw action for the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Czech Open will begin today 23 August 2018 at 10 am (GMT +2) with the world’s top stars competing in four medal events – Women’s Doubles Men’s Doubles Women’s Singles & Men’s Singles. The Champions will be crowned on Sunday 26 August 2018.
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