Best ranked European player in the Men’s singles event at the 2021 WTT Contender tournament in Doha Swede Mattias FALCK progressed to the Round of 16 to play against his teammate Kristian KARLSSON. It was a good day from Sweden’s player but the one who caught most of the attention was Andreas LEVENKO. Austria’s player beat England’s Liam PITCHFORD to reach Round of 16.
FALCK overcame Mihai BOBOCICA of Italy (11-8 4-11 11-9 11-8) whilst KARLSSON beat Darko JORGIC of Slovenia (9-11 6-11 12-10 6-11). LEVENKO succeeded against PITCHFORD in four games (11-4 11-8 5-11 11-7). Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany accounted for Noshad ALMIYAN of Islamic Republic of Iran (11-7 11-5 8-11 13-11). He will meet Emmanuel LEBESSON of France tomorrow. French player beat Marcos FREITAS of Portugal (9-11 13-11 14-12 12-10).
Today WTT issued a statement:
“Slovakia’s Yang Wang will not participate in this week’s World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender men’s singles event due to a breach of WTT’s Middle East Hub COVID-19 protocols. These protocols have been established by WTT International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) and the Qatar Ministry of Public Health.
As a result of the breach Wang will not participate in his opening match against Portugal’s Joao Geraldo and the match will be deemed as a walkover with Geraldo automatically progressing to the second round.
Wang remains eligible for the WTT Star Contender but his participation is subjected to his compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.”
To the Round of 16 progressed one Romania’s and two players from Germany and two from Ukraine. Bernadette SZOCS beat CHENG I Ching (12-10 7-11 11-8 11-3). Nina MITTELHAM joined her after the victory over YUAN Jiu Nan of France (11-5 9-11 13-15 11-4 6-11) whilst SHAN Xiaona overcame ZHANG Mo of Canada (6-11 11-9 11-6 11-6). SHAN will meet Margaryta PESOTSKA who overcame Adriana DIAZ of Puerto Rico (5-11 11-9 7-11 11-7 7-11). Ganna GAPONOVA proved too strong for Bruna TKAHASHI of Brazil (11-5 11-9 11-6).
