Liam Pitchford powered into the last 16 of the China Open with a 4-1 victory over world No 11 Hugo Calderano today.
Having beaten his Brazilian opponent comfortably at the Team World Cup in London in February, Pitchford again proved to be too good for Calderano as he opened up a 2-0 lead and then shaded a closer third game 13-11 after Calderano had hit back from 10-7 down.
Calderano nicked the fourth 12-10 ater Pitchford had led 8-4 but Pitchford was in no mood to relinquish his hold on the match as he closed it out in the fifth.
Pitchford’s opponent in the last 16 tomorrow will be world No 9 Koki Niwa, who defeated Bojan Tokic of Slovenia in six games today.
In the doubles, Pitchford & Lubomir Pistej of Slovakia were defeated by Japan’s Masataka Morizono & Yuya Oshima in three straight.
Click here to watch the doubles match
Results
Men’s Singles
Round of 32
Pitchford bt Hugo Calderano (BRA) 4-1 (11-8, 11-7, 13-11, 10-12, 11-6)
Men’s Doubles
Round of 16
Masataka Morizono & Yuya Oshima (JPN) bt Pitchford & Pistej 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-3)