French Youth Open
The highly seeded players in the Girls?Singles event at the French Youth Open in Vern sur Seiche all finished their first stage matches in first place in their respective groups on Wednesday 13th May 2009 and thus booked their places in the main draw.
It was a successful end to the opening day for the favourites. Korea Yang Ha Eun, the Russian duo of Yana Noskova and Tatiana Ryabova, Portugal Maria Xiao and the French trio of Aure Dessaint, Alice Abbat and Laura Gasnier all succeeded, without being extended the full five games distance.
Problems for Hong Kong
However, for Hong Kong 14 year old Li Ching Wan, seeded no.7, there were problems.
She finished in top place in her group, thanks to French help.
In her opening duel, the Hong Kong teenager beat the host nation Sarah Berge in three straight games (12-10, 11-5, 11-3); however, in her next encounter she suffered defeat. She was beaten in five games by Russia Violetta Safina.
The Russian won a quite momentous struggle by the margin of 11-9, 4-11, 7-11, 16-14, 12-10.
Response
Win a close contest and confidence is high but the French girl had other ideas, she responded and overcame Violetta Safina in a hard fought five games duel. The victory was exactly what Li Ching Wan required, French success had given Hong Kong top spot.
On games ratio, Li Ching Wan finished the group in top place with Violetta Safina second and Sarah Berge third. Both Li Ching Wan and Violetta Safina progressed to the main draw, for Sara Berge it was elimination.
Twelve Year Old Causes Upset
Sadness for France but there was joy with 12 year old Laura Pfefer being the player to cause the surprise.
She finished in first place in her group beating Poland Zuzanna Samsel and Algeria Faiza Laid; both fine wins but the win of note was her victory of Luxembourg Danielle Konsbruck.
In Form
Konsbruck, seeded no.16, is very much a player in form; she reached the quarter-finals of the Girls?Singles event at the Spanish Youth Open one week earlier being the only one outside the top eight seeds to reach that exalted stage.
In Vern sur Seiche it was role reversal; she was the only one of the top 16 seeds not to finish her group in first place in the Girls?Singles event.
Challenge Awaits
However, she is still alive, she finished the group in second place and thus has reserved a place in the main draw; in Spain she showed herself to be a player of character, in Vern sur Seiche, the challenge awaits.
文章來源： 國際乒聯 ittf.com
作者：Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
[ 本帖最後由 raymondsir 於 2009-5-19 08:22 編輯 ]
