Luke Savill’s interest in the French Youth Open Junior Boys’ Singles was ended in agonising fashion as he was eliminated 17-15 in a deciding set in the last 64.
The 16-year-old’s opponent in Metz was Takeru Kashiwa of Japan, ranked 21 places above Savill at No 130 on the world Under-18 rankings.
And the match ebbed and flowed throughout as Savill twice levelled the score at 1-1 and 2-2 before moving 3-2 ahead. But his opponent pulled it back to 3-3 and then shaded a prolonged decider.
Earlier, Savill had won all three matches to top his qualifying group.
In the doubles, Savill and partner Melker Nilsson of Sweden were beaten in the last 32 by the fifth seeds from Russia.
Savill played alongside Nilsson and Adar Alguetti of the USA in the team event and saw Irvin Bertrand of France A come from 2-0 down to beat him 3-2 (8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7). A walkover against Romania put the team into the main draw, where they were defeated 3-0 by France B, Savill losing to Bastien Rembert by the same 3-2 margin (11-5, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8).
Results
Junior Boys’ Singles
Group 11
Luke Savill bt Dennis Huberty (LUX) 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-6)
Savill bt Valentin Pieraert (BEL) 3-2 (8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 12-10)
Savill bt Chun Kit Lau (HKG) 3-1 (11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9)
Round of 64
Takeru Kashiwa (JPN) bt Savill 4-3 (11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-4, 17-15)
Junior Boys’ Doubles
Round of 32
Maksim Kiselev & Nikita Yarushin (RUS) bt Luke Savill & Melker Nilsson (SWE) 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-7)