by Ian Marshall, Editor

Honours even and at the end of the day a satisfactory outcome for both nations; first and second places in the respective groups were eventually secured and thus progress to the main draw was achieved.

In the opening match of their campaign in the junior boys’ team event, France recorded a 3-2 win in opposition to the no.3 seeds, the Czech Republic trio formed by Ondrej Kveton, Adam Stalzer and Jan Mokrejs.

Backbone of success

Man of the moment was Alexis Kouraichi; in the opening match of the fixture he beat Ondrej Kveton (11-3, 11-4, 11-7), in the vital concluding fifth and deciding contest he overcame Adam Stalzer (11-6, 11-1, 7-11, 11-6) to seal the victory. The one remaining success for the French was recorded in the third match of the engagement when Hugo Deschamps accounted for Jan Mokrejs (11-6, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5).

Success against the Czech Republic was followed by a 3-1 win in opposition to the no.6 seeds, the Italian combination of Constantino Cappuccio, Marco Cappuccio and Francesco Palmieri; the contest following a close 3-2 victory for the Czech Republic in opposition to the Italians.

First places as expected

A surprise first place, in the three remaining groups it was top spot as predicted. Slovakia’s Filip Delincak, Dalibor Diko and Adam Klajber, the top seeds, duly secured first position in their group as did the combination of Japan’s Seu Goto, Canada’s Edward Ly and Kai Zarehbin of the United States.

Similarly, Poland who selected from Szymon Kolasa, Michal Malachowski, Jakub Jankowski and Lukasz Sokolowski secured first position in their group.

Imposing wins

Noteworthy success for France, in the junior girls’ team event for Chloe Chomis, Charlotte Lutz and Sofia Ray, the very opposite. A 3-0 defeat was the outcome when facing the Czech Republic’s Klara Hrabicova, Jana Vasendova and Kristyna Penkavova, very much a team in form.

No changes to the selection they succeeded by the same margin against Poland’s Natalia Szymczyk, Dominika Gilewska and Alexandra Jarkowska to secure first place.

Impressive from the Czech Republic, it was also impressive from the top seeds, England’s Charlotte Bardsley and Millie Rogove joined forces with Norway’s Martine Toftaker to secure first place. Second position finished in the hands of the combination formed by the Czech Republic’s Nela Hanakova and Anna Klempererova who partnered Poland’s Julia Tomecka.

Only first place for progress

First and second positions the criteria, in the cadet boys’ team and cadet girls’ team events, only first place sufficed.

In the cadet boys’ team event it was first place for the combination of Norway’s Martin Froseth and Slovakia’s Roman France as it was for Ecuador’s Jeremy Cedeño and Diego Piguave. Likewise Switzerland’s Timothy Falconnier and Robin Renold enjoyed a successful day, a situation that also applied to Croatia’s Borna Petek and Luka Zlatkov.

Also there were first group finishes for Germany’s Tayler Fox and Lleyton Ullmann, in addition to the French pairing of Celian Besnier and Milhane Jellouli alongside colleagues Marius Benchat and Flavio Mourier.

Meanwhile, in the cadet girls’ team event, Slovakia’s Ema Cincurova and Dominika Wiltschkova secured top spot in their group, as did Germany’s Mia Griesel and Jele Stortz alongside colleagues Laura Kaim and Sarah Rau. In addition it was first place for the French outfit formed by Crystal Chan, Clea de Stoppelaire and Leana Hochart.

Play in the team events concludes on Saturday 2nd November.