It was to some extent a day to breathe a sigh of relief

Men’s Singles: Preliminary Round One

…………Recent winner at the ITTF 2019 Challenge Thailand Open, Germany’s Ruwen Filus resisted a spirited recovery by Denmark’s Tobias Rasmussen (11-7, 11-3, 11-7, 1-11, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7).

…………Winner last year at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Czech Open, China’s Zheng Peifeng, needed the full seven games to beat Frenchman, Benjamin Brossier (11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5).

…………In the contest involving ITTF World Tour Chile Open champions; Frenchman Antoine Hachard, winner in 2016, beat the previous year’s winner Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro, in seven games (11-7, 4-11, 11-5, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7).

…………ITTF World Tour winner in 2008 in Brazil and 2015 in Hungary, Jiang Tianyi flew the flag for Hong Kong; rather less dramatically he accounted for Finland’s Benedek Olah, the 2016 winner in Nigeria (6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9).

Women’s Singles: Preliminary Round One

…………Successful on the ITTF World Tour, winning in 2010 in Germany, two years later in both Kuwait and Russia, China’s Feng Yalan was extended to seven games by Austria’s Yui Hamamoto (11-1, 1-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-3).

…………Winner on the ITTF World Tour in 2015 in Sweden and in same year World Championships semi-finalist, China’s Mu Zi needed six games to end the hopes of Spain’s Liu Xin (11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6).

…………Zhu Chengzhu was the player in form for Hong Kong; she beat Thailand’s Tamolwan Khetkhuan in straight games (11-4, 11-4, 11-9, 11-6).

…………Closest match of the round was the win recorded by Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing; she beat India’s Krittwika Roy (11-6, 11-6, 8-11, 4-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9).

Men’s Doubles: Preliminary Round One

…………The Czech Republic’s Tomas Polansky and Pavel Sirucek won the match of the round. They saved four match points in the deciding game against Sweden’s Anton Källberg and Truls Moregard before emerging successful (12-10, 11-8, 6-11, 6-11, 12-10).

Women’s Doubles: Preliminary Round One

…………Japan’s 14 year old Miyuu Kihara and 16 years of age Miyu Nagasaki shone. They accounted for China’s He Zhuojia and Qian Tianyi in straight games (11-3, 12-10, 11-5).

Mixed Doubles: Preliminary Round One

…………A new mixed doubles option for Japan; Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata beat Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez and Melanie Diaz in four games (11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6).