There were plenty of surprises and one wonders in the women’s singles event, since the ITTF World Tour commenced in 1996 and in those days included what we now consider challenge series tournaments, was a record set?

A total of 32 groups in the first stage, players finishing in top spot joining the 32 seeds in the main draw, no less than 17 groups produced surprise winners.

On the opening day of action, Russia’s Dora Chernoray had secured first place against the odds; on the second day Germany’s Yuki Tsutsui alongside Poland’s Julia Szymczak, Julia Slazak and Katarzyna Wegrzyn followed suit, as did the Czech Republic’s Karolina Mynarova and Zdena Blaskova.

Success contrary to expectations for Europe but it was the Asian army that excelled and defied the status quo. China led the way, Shi Xunyao, Wu Yangchen, Chen Yi, Kuai Man, Yang Yiyun and Wang Xiaotong all ended the day unbeaten and in first positions. Similarly Malaysia’s Alice Sian Chiang Li excelled, Korea Republic’s Lee Nakyung, Kim Mingyung and Kim Haeun achieved the same distinction.

Add the fact that as expected, in addition to Feng Yalan, colleagues Fan Siqi and Yang Huijing topped their groups, the opening round of the women’s singles event could prove very interesting. More qualifiers to progress to round two than seeds?

Similar situation

Likewise in the men’s singles event, a host of surprise names gained main draw places; in fact the number almost matched the women. It was 15 in total.

On the opening day of play Hungary’s Lu Kaiyang had reserved his main draw place against the odds. On the second day of action colleague Sai Linwei did the same; a feat that was matched by Frenchman Alexandre Cassin, Poland’s Samuel Kulczycki, Germany’s Meng Fanbo and Ukraine’s Anton Limonov.

Six unexpected first places in the groups where first place meant a direct entry to the main draw. Lower down the order, where those who topped their groups and were required to play a further preliminary round to gain qualification, there were nine more surprise names.

Japan’s Hiroto Shinosuka and Takeru Kashikwa emerged in unexpected group first places and then gained preliminary round success. It was the same for Russia’s Maxim Chaplygin but it was China that ruled as upsets prevailed. Xie Congfan, Xu Haidong, Yuan Licen, Yan Sheng, Zhao Zhaoyuan and Gao Yang all progressed to the main draw.

Now add compatriot Xu Yingbin, the winner at the recent 2019 ITTF Challenge Polish Open to the equation who advanced as his status advises; the opening round of the men’s singles event may produce more than one upset!

Surprise quarter-finalist

An unexpected second round place for Hiroto Shinozuka in the men’s singles event, in the under 21 men’s singles competition, it was a surprise quarter-final place. The no.35 rated player in the event, after on the opening day having beaten Russia’s Denis Ivonin, the no.2 seed (12-10, 11-8, 11-7), he continued his fine form. He ended the hopes of Poland’s Samuel Kulczycki, the no.32 seed (11-7, 11-9, 11-6) to secure his last eight places.

Similarly, there were surprise quarter-final places for Moldova’s Andrei Putuntica, the no.22 seed, Russia’s Lev Katsman, the no.24 seed, Frenchman, Irvin Bertrand, the no.26 seed and Poland’s Maciej Kubik, the no.27 seed. In a likewise manner, alongside China’s Sai Linwei, listed at no.45 in the order of merit, colleague Nui Guankai and Spain’s Albert Lillo, players with no current world ranking in the under 21 men’s age group, advanced to the quarter-final round.

Notably, Andrei Putuntica ousted Poland’s Jan Zandecki (11-9, 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8), the winner the previous day in opposition to Frenchman Bastien Rembert, the no.3 seed (6-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7).

No place in the quarter-finals for the second and third seeds, for the other two leading names it was success. In the second round, Russia’s Vladimir Sidorenko, the top seed, beat the Czech Republic’s Radem Bako (11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12); Iran’s Amir Hossein, the no.4 seed, prevailed in opposition to Slovakia’s Tibor Spanik (11-5, 11-7, 11-7).

Seeds fall

Surprises, in the under 21 women’s singles event, where also the quarter-finalists were decided, there were also upsets. Most notably Hungary’s Leonie Hartbricht, the no.3 seed, lost to Lucie Gauthier of France (7-11, 11-2, 11-8, 14-12); Slovakia’s Tatiana Kukulkova, the no.4 seed, suffered at the hands of Czech Republic’s Nikita Petrovova (14-12, 11-3, 11-8).

Similarly, the host nation’s Daria Trigolos, the no.6 seed, was beaten by China’s Kuai Man (11-4, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9), Spain’s Sophie-Xuan Zhuang, the no.8 seed, experienced defeat when opposing China’s Yang Yiyun (11-8, 11-1, 9-11, 11-7). Defeats but for the most prominent names it was success. Belgium’s Lisa Lung, the top seed, reserved her quarter-final place by beating Elizavet Terpou of Greece (11-4, 12-10, 11-4), likewise Russia’s Maria Malanina, the no.2 seed, overcame Uzbekistan’s Markhabo Magdieva (11-4, 11-9, 11-7).

Different scenarios

Meanwhile, as anticipated in the men’s doubles preliminary stage, Romania’s Cristian Pletea and Rares Sipos duly booked their main draw place as did the next in the order of merit Russia’s Vladimir Sidorenko and Kirill Skachkov.

Conversely, in the women’s doubles event life was very different, the highest rated departed. The Korea Republic emerged the nation in form. Kim Haeun and Lee Nakyung beat Slovakia’s Natalia Grigelova and Tatiana Kukulkova, the highest rated pair on preliminary stage duty (11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9); China’s Chen Yi and Wu Yangchen overcame the next rated, Belgium’s Margo Degraef and Lisa Lung (11-4, 11-4, 11-7). Alas the joy was short-lived. In their next match they lost to Kim Mingyung and Kim Yedam (7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-2) like Kim Haeun and Lee Nakyung from Korea Republic.

The main event commences on Friday 1st November, the first and second rounds of the men’s singles and women’s singles events will be completed, as will the opening round of the men’s doubles and women’s doubles. The quarter-finals of the under 21 men’s singles and under 21 women’s singles start the day.