Other Events | 7 Jun 2018
Japan Open: Britt EERLAND survives after 0:3 to set up Round 1 clash with LIU Shiwen
Photo: Courtesy ITTF
Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour LION Japan Open
Three out of 16 places of the Men`s Singles Qualification at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour LION Japan Open have been booked by European representatives: Tiago APOLONIA from Portugal, Benedikt DUDA from Germany and Alvaro ROBLES from Spain.
APOLONIA beat Supakron PANKHAOYOY from Thailand in straight games and Chinese Taipei`s HUNG Tzu-Hsiang in five sets. DUDA needed to play one set more than Portugal`s player, to secure his berth in the main draw, eliminating Thailand`s Yanapong PANAGITGUN (4-0) and China`s LIU Dingshuo (4-2). Spanish player faced Chinese Taipei`s LEE Chia-Sheng and Korea`s KIM Daewoo, with the same outcome (4-1).
Former Olympic and World champion ZHANG Jike confirmed his reputation losing just one set in two qualifying games, to set up his clash with Denmark`s Jonathan GROTH.
Tomorrow, Jun 8th, No. 1 seed Timo BOLL faces host player Yuta TANAKA in the opening round. His compatriot Benedikt DUDA takes on Sweden`s Kristian KARLSSON, while Mattias KARLSSON plays against Chinese ZHOU Kai. Chinese Taipei`s CHUANG Chih-Yuan will be an opponent of Alvaro ROBLES. Other games of European representatives are following: Simon GAUZY vs. JEOUNG Youngsik from Korea, APOLONIA vs. Maharu YOSHIMURA from Japan. Actual World and Olympic champion, No. 2 seed MA Long vs. CHIANG Hung-Chieh from Chinese Taipei.
Current Women`s ITTF-Europe Top 16 winner Bernadette SZOCS from Romania won both her encounters in six games, against Korea`s JI Eunchae and Japan`s Haruna OJIO. Netherland`s Britt EERLAND was extended to full distance by Korea`s LEE Zion in the ultimate stage of the Women`s Singles Qualification, reversing the score from 0-3 to 4-3 (6:11, 8:11, 11:13, 11:7, 11:6, 11:8, 13:11). Norway`s MA Wenting faced a little bit easier task, turning the score from 0-2 to 4-2. Portugal`s FU Yu was brilliant, winning both matches in straight games.
Women`s Singles Round 1 offers the clash between two Seamaster ECLW participants Bernadette SZOCS and Hong Kong`s DOO Hoi Kem (recently crowned ECLW winner with Dr. Casl). Britt EERLAND faces big challeng, as her opponent will be an actual World No. 5 LIU Shiwen.
More information: here
