The leading names in the first stage of both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open in Minsk duly finished in first places in their respective groups on the opening day of the tournament. In the Men,
The leading names in the first stage of both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open in Minsk duly finished in first places in their respective groups on the opening day of the tournament.
In the Men’s Singles event it was top spot for the Japanese trio of Mizuki OIKAWA, Yuto HIGASHI and Kohei SAMBE; as it was for Russia’s Viatcheslav KRIVOSHEEV and Mikhail GLADYSHEV. Similarly, there were no great problems for Bulgaria’s Stanislav GOLOVANOV and Italy’s Leonardo MUTTI.
But it was not safe way for rest of the lower ranked players. Sweden’s Anthony TRAN, listed at no.353 on the current Men’s World Ranking list was extended the full seven games distance by the host nation’s Dmitriy FOREITOROV (12:10, 11:6, 10:12, 11:8, 9:11, 9:11, 5:11, 11:9); whilst Japan’s Ryotaro OGATO, also needed the full seven games to overcome Russia’s Ivan MOSKAEV (10:12, 11:5, 11:6, 10:12, 11:7, 7:11, 11:9); likewise a player who currently owns no global status. Ryotaro Ogata is listed at no.486 on the current Men’s World Rankings.
Similarly, in the opening phase of the Women’s Singles event, the top eight names all ended the day with a perfect record; two matches played, two matches won and a place secured firmly in the main draw.
Laura PFEFFER of France, the eighth highest globally listed player in first day Women’s Singles action needed the full seven games to overcame Japan’s 14 year old Kana TAKEUCHI (11:3, 11:6, 8:11, 3:11, 13:11, 8:11, 11:7). Earlier she had beaten Megan PHILIPPS of Wales in five games (12:10, 17:15, 11:8, 8:11, 11:4) and thus secured top place in the group. PFEFFER stands at no.244 on the Women’s World Rankings, TAKEUCHI is at no.352.
Two close calls and there was a testing duel for the sixth highest listed in action, the host nation’s Alina ARLOUSKAYA. Named at no.242 on the Women’s World Rankings, after overcoming Alice BARENDREGT of the Netherlands in four straight games (11:3, 11:2, 11:4, 11:9), she needed six games to defeat Sweden’s Linda BERGSTRÖM (11:9, 10:12, 11:8, 7:11, 14:12, 11:2). Alina ARLOUSKAYA has been side-lined recently through injury.
