Helshan Weerasinghe and Tin-Tin Ho reached the last 16 of their respective cadet singles competitions at the French Junior and Cadet Open in Metz.
Weerasinghe wasted no time in despatching his group opponents – dropping only the one game in a 3-1 victory over Frenchman Alexis Douin as he stormed into the last 32. There he met German Dennis Klein, who was no match for Weerasinghe.
The first two games flew by – both by an 11-1 scoreline, effectively ending any sort of contest the pair might have. The English star then sealed the 3-0 win in the next game with an 11-9 game to set up a last 16 tie with Simon Berglund from Sweden, who is the cadet world number 31.
Tin-Tin equally reached the last 16 with dominant performances in her group – including a 3-2 win against Adina Diaconu (ROU) – the cadet world number 33. Despite falling both 1-0 and 2-1 behind to the Romanian she fought back to steal the match in the fifth game 12-10 and take the top seeding in the group.
It hasn’t necessarily helped her draw, however, as after she beat Roza Soposki (FRA) 3-1 in the last 32 she now has to face the world cadet number 12 Miu Hirano from Japan. It will be a real test of her abilities tomorrow.
Her doubles team-mate Maria Tsaptsinos also made the last 32 after coming second in her group, although a straight games defeat to French girl Pauline Chasselin means she now has only the doubles competition left to focus on. Ho and Tsaptsinos will play in the last 16 in that tomorrow after they beat the Belgian pair of Lisa Lung and Delfien Marijsse 3-1.
They face the French duo of Roza Soposka and Pauline Ogrine for a place in the last eight.
The remaining cadet, Sam Mabey, was knocked out of his group, which was no surprise given he was the lowest seed. He now plays in the consolation event and his first match is against young Scotsman Chris Wheeler tomorrow.
That is his last chance to continue in the tournament as both he and Weerasinghe were beaten 3-2 in the doubles against Irvin Bertrand and Joris Reynauld. The English pair had led 2-0 but collapsed to eventually lose a tight decider 12-10 in the fifth.
Cadet Boys Results:
Singles Qualifying Groups:
Romain Ruiz (FRA) bt Sam Mabey 3-1 (11-1, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5)
Adam Brat (SVK) bt Sam Mabey 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3)
Helshan Weerasinghe bt Jannik Xu (GER) 3-0 (11-7, 11-3, 15-13)
Helshan Weerasinghe bt Alexis Douin (FRA) 3-1 (11-4, 11-7, 6-11, 11-2)
Helshan Weerasinghe bt Vladimir Anca (ROU) 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-6)
Singles Round of 32:
Helshan Weerasinghe bt Dennis Klein (GER) 3-0 (11-1, 11-1, 11-9)
Doubles:
Bertrand/Reynauld (FRA) bt Mabey/Weerasinghe 3-2 (6-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-1, 12-10)
Cadet Girls Results:
Singles Qualifying Groups:
Marie Migot (FRA) bt Maria Tsaptsinos 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-7)
Maria Tsaptsinos bt Rachel Crawford (SCO) 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-7)
Maria Tsaptsinos bt Eline Loyen (BEL) 3-1 (12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Julia Kaim (GER) 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-7)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Adina Diaconu (ROU) 3-2 (6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Camille Campion (FRA) 3-1 (11-4, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8)
Singles Round of 32:
Pauline Chasselin (FRA) bt Maria Tsaptsinos 3-0 (11-4, 11-3, 11-4)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Roza Soposki (FRA) 3-1 (11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6)
Doubles:
Ho/Tsaptsinos bt Lung/Marijsse (BEL) 3-1 (11-5, 4-11, 11-4, 11-5)