Sam Walker and Tin-Tin Ho both had excellent runs at the Czech Junior and Cadet Open as they reached their respective quarter-finals in Hodonin.
Walker was seeded 15th in the junior boy’s singles which gifted him a passage into the first knock-out round. However, not settling on this opportunity he quickly saw off Samuel Kaluzny (4-2), Alezandru Mircea (4-0) and Jorge Costa (4-0) to justify his seeding.
His run only came to an end with a narrow seven game defeat to France’s Paul Gauzy, which went all the way to deuce in the final end before the plucky Englishman was finally knocked out at the quarter-final stage.
Similarly, Tin-Tin managed to work her way to the junior girl’s last eight, although she had to win through her qualifying group to reach that mark.
After three group wins she beat Anna Fenyvesi (4-2) and Diana Lupu (4-0) in her first two knockout rounds. However, she was no match for Russia’s Daria Chernova in a straight games defeat in their quarter-final meeting, despite twice losing games 13-11.
There was also some success for Helshan Weerasinghe and George Downing who both progressed to the last 64, only to find the going tough against their higher ranked opponents.
The other junior girls, Maria Tsaptsinos and Lois Peake were unable to progress from their qualifying groups in the Czech Republic. The story was similar in the doubles where no English pairings could progress far in the competition.
Next up is the team events before the cadets can try their hand at the international game. With Tin-Tin already showing good form, how far can she go over the weekend.
Czech Junior & Cadet Open, Hodonin 13-17th February 2013
Junior Boys Singles Qualifying Groups:
Group 7:
Helshan Weerasinghe bt Filip Karin (SUI) 3-1 (14-12, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5)
Valentin Nad Nemedi (SRB) bt Helshan Weerasinghe 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11)
Helshan Weerasinghe bt Alexandru Manole (ROU) 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-6)
Group 9:
George Downing bt Dan Zarnescu (ROU) 3-2 (6-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7)
George Downing bt Patrik Vlacuska (SVK) 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-2)
George Downing bt Ivor Katic (SRB) 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 11-9)
Junior Boys Singles Knock-out Rounds:
First Round:
Sam Walker bt Samuel Kaluzny (SVK) 4-2 (12-10, 11-4, 8-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-4)
Roman Rezetka (SVK) bt Helshan Weerasinghe 4-1 (11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7)
Gleb Shamruck (BLR) bt George Downing 4-1 (5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9)
Round of 32:
Sam Walker bt Alexandru Mircea (ROU) 4-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5)
Round of 16:
Sam Walker bt Jorge Costa (POR) 4-0 (14-12, 11-4, 13-11, 11-6)
Quarter-final:
Paul Gauzy (FRA) bt Sam Walker 4-3 (11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 12-10)
Junior Girls Singles Qualifying Groups:
Group 8:
Lejla Imre (HUN) bt Lois Peake 3-0 (14-12, 11-5, 11-9)
Arina Singeorzan (ROU) bt Lois Peake 3-1 (11-7, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7)
Emina Hadziametovic (BIH) bt Lois Peake 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-5)
Group 10:
Tin-Tin Ho bt Bruna Takahashi (BRA) 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-4)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Rita Fins (POR) 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7)
Tin-Tin Ho bt Valerie Tischler (AUT) 3-1 (11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6)
Group 16:
Eva Jurkova (SVK) bt Maria Tsaptsinos 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-6)
Maria Tsaptsinos bt Nika Veronik (SLO) 3-2 (11-6, 4-11, 14-12, 6-11, 11-6)
Gokcenur Gungor (TUR) bt Maria Tsaptsinos 3-1 (7-11, 13-11, 11-3, 11-7)
Junior Girls Singles Knock-out Rounds:
Round of 32:
Tin-Tin Ho bt Anna Fenyvesi (SRB) 4-2 (11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-13, 13-11, 12-10)
Round of 16:
Tin-Tin Ho bt Diana Lupu (ROU) 4-0 (11-9, 14-12, 12-10, 11-7)
Quarter-final:
Daria Chernova (RUS) bt Tin-Tin Ho 4-0 (11-2, 13-11, 11-7, 13-11)
Junior Boys Doubles:
Round of 64:
Ingemar Peter (SVK)/Michal Murawski (POL) bt George Downing/Ivan Jardas (CRO) 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 12-10)
Round of 32:
Adrian Costea/Alexandru Mircea (ROU) bt Sam Walker/Helshan Weerasinghe 3-0 (11-7, 12-10, 13-11)
Junior Girls Doubles:
Round of 32:
Tin-Tin Ho/Maria Tsaptsinos bt Karolina Mynarova/Kristyna Stefcova (CZE) 3-2 (5-11, 11-5, 6-11, 13-11, 11-6)
Round of 16:
Lea Rakovac/Mateja Jeger bt Tin-Tin Ho/Maria Tsaptsinos 3-0 (13-11, 11-0, 11-8)