Five of the English boy’s made it through the group stages and into the round of 32 in the Serbia Cadet Open. Naphong Boonyaprapa, Louis Price, Thomas Rayner, Benjamin Piggott, and Felix Thomis all looked comfortable at the table as they qualified for the round of 32.
It was another impressive performance from Felix, who although started on the wrong foot, losing to Thailand opponent Napat Thanmathikom 3-0 (15-13, 11-7, 11-9). Felix then went on to produce a stylish performance against Bosnian competitor Dario Pejic, winning 3-0 (11-2, 11-9, 11-8) to qualify for the round of 32.
Felix then went on to make it to the quarterfinals, through victories against Andras Oros (ROU) 3-1 (11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8), and Borna Petek (CRO) 3-1 (11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2). Romanian opposition Andrei Teodor Istrate appeared to much for Felix, despite a valiant effort he came up short losing 3-1 (11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2).
Boonyaprapa, Price, and Piggott all made it through the round of 32, before all being knocked out in the round of 16.
Jie Fu Tham and Sajad Ali were both eliminated in the group stages. Tham went on to the quarterfinals of the Cadet Boy’s consolation, which resulted in a defeat at the hands of Slovakian opponent Pavol Bilka, 3-1 (11-9, 11-4, 5-11, 11-6).
Amy Marriot was eliminated during the Cadet Girl’s singles group stages through two consecutive defeats, losing to Brazilian Laura Watanabe 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 12-10), and Russian Mariia Tarasova 3-2 (11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 5-11, 11-1).
Marriott went on to make the semifinals of the consolation round. A tough challenge against Russian player Evgeniya Tikhanova was a step too far for Marriott who lost 3-1 (1103, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7).
In the Cadet Boy’s doubles, Tham & Felix partnership flourished as they went on to reach the semifinals. They were only stopped through defeat at the hands of Romanian pairing Daniel Moldovan & Paul Szilagyi that knocked out fellow countrymen Boonyaprapa & Piggott. Unfortunately, the pairing couldn’t claim a victory, despite a close game they were defeated 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-9).
Having lost to the eventual winners of the doubles, Tham & Felix can be proud that they claimed the bronze medal of the cadet boy’s doubles. National coach Marcus Gustavson “It was great to start the international competition season for juniors in a positive way, with several good results and performances. One of the highlights results-wise was the bronze medal in cadet boy’s doubles.”
Price & Rayner made it to the round of 16 and were subsequently eliminated by Russian Pairing Llia Kohniukhov & Miron Vasilev 3-1 (11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8). Boonyaprapa & Piggott were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Daniel Moldovan (ROU) & Paul Szilagyi 3-1 (8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6). Ali who partnered Octavian Petru Aparaschivei of Romania was defeated by Australia pairing Chulong Nie & Ray Zhang 3-0 (11-7, 13-11, 11-5).
Marriott partnered Anastasiia Stepanova of Russia and was eliminated in the round of 16 to Brazillian pairing Giulia Takahashi & Laura Watanabe 3-1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-3).
Results
Cadet Boy’s Singles
Group 1
Napat Thanmathikom (THA) bt Felix Thomis 3-0 (15-13, 11-7, 11-9)
Thomis bt Dario Pejic (BIH) 3-0 (11-2, 11-9, 11-8)
Group 4
Khalil Sta (TUN) bt Jie Fu Tham 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9)
Tham bt Daniel Varga (SRB) 3-0 (14-12, 11-9, 11-5)
Group 7
Louis Price bt Chulong Nie (AUS) 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-8)
Evgeny Tikhonov (RUS) bt Price 3-1 (6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9)
Price bt Uros Ninkovic (SRB) 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-9)
Group 9
Naphong Boonyaprapa bt Amar Isabegovic 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-7)
Boonyaprapa bt Samuel Palusek 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-7)
Boonyaprapa bt Andrej Milosevic (MNE) 3-1 (11-3, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9)
Group 13
Sajad Ali bt Ivan Hencl (CRO) 3-2 (12-10, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 13-11)
Horia Stefan Ursut (ROU) bt Ali 3-1 (9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8)
Petar Radnovic (SRB) bt Ali 3-1 (11-6, 11-7, 4-11, 11-5)
Group 15
Benjamin Piggott bt Marko Boskovic 3-0 (11-9, 11-3, 11-5)
Martin Froseth (NOR) bt Piggott 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-7)
Piggott bt Khalid Alyafei (QAT) 3-0 (11-7, 11-3, 11-9)
Group 16
Thomas Rayner bt Octavian Petru Aparaschivei 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-5)
Rayner bt Luka Zlatkov (CRO) 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-4)
Pavol Bilka (SVK) bt Rayner 3-2 (7-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4, 11-8)
Round of 32
Boonyaprapa bt Luka Zlatikov (CRO) 3-2 (5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7)
Price bt Vitalii Krivonogov (RUS) 3-2 (11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11)
Khalil Sta (TUN) bt Rayner 3-1 (11-4, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9)
Piggott bt Ahmed Korani (QAT) 3-2 (11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 12-14, 13-11)
Felix bt Andras Oros (SRB) 3-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8)
Round of 16
Evgeny Tikhonov (RUS) bt Boonyaprapa 3-2 (11-5, 10-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8)
Paul Szilagyi (ROU) bt Price 3-2 (3-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10)
Khalil Staf (TUN) bt Piggott 3-1 (11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 11-5)
Felix bt Borna Petek (CRO) 3-1 (11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8)
Quarterfinals
Andrei Teodor Istrate (ROU) bt Felix 3-1 (11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-2)
Cadet Boy’s Consolation
Round of 32
Tham (BYE)
Ali bt Atai Kasymov (KGZ) 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-7)
Round of 16
Tham bt Ray Zhang (AUS) 3-2 (11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10)
Ivan Hencl (CRO) bt Ali 3-1 (11-5, 11-3, 6-11, 14-12)
Quarterfinals
Pavol Bilka (SVK) bt Tham 3-1 (11-9, 11-4, 5-11, 11-6)
Cadet Girl’s Singles
Group 3
Laura Watanabe (BRA) bt Marriott 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 12-10)
Mariia Tarasova (RUS) bt Amy Marriott 3-2 (11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 5-11, 11-1)
Cadet Girls Consolation
Round of 16
Marriott bt Jelena Setfanovic (SRB) 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3)
Quarterfinals
Marriott bt Martina Ostojic (MNE) 3-0 (11-9, 11-1, 11-8)
Semifinals
Evgeniya Tikhanova (RUS) bt Marriott 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7)
Cadet Boy’s Doubles
Round of 32
Chulong Nie (AUS) & Ray Zhang (AUS) bt Ali and Octavian Petru Aparaschivei (ROU) 3-0 (11-7, 13-11, 11-5)
Tham & Felix bt Dragos Alexandru (ROU) and Vitalii Krivonogov (RUS) 3-1 (12-10, 11-13, 11-7, 11-9)
Boonyaprapa & Piggott bt Luka Lozusic (CRO) & Andrea Morri (SMR) 3-1 (11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 13-11)
Price & Rayner bt Bogdan Ilic (SRB) & Branislav Smiljkovic (SRB) 3-2 (13-15, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6)
Round of 16
Tham & Felix bt Vladimir Pandurevic (BIH) & Dario Pejic (BIH) 3-1 (11-4, 11-3, 7-11, 12-10)
Boonyaprapa & Piggott bt Sultan Al-Kuwari (QAT) & Ahmed Korani 3-1 (9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5)
Llia Kohniukhov (RUS) & Miron Vasilev (RUS) bt Price & Rayner 3-1 (11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8)
Quarterfinals
Tham & Felix bt Napat Thanmathikom (THA) & Tanapat Thanmathikom 3-2 (11-8, 20-18, 10-12, 10-12, 11-9)
Daniel Moldovan (ROU) & Paul Szilagyi (ROU) bt Boonyaprapa & Piggott 3-1 (8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6)
Semifinals
Daniel Moldovan (ROU) & Paul Szilagyi (ROU) bt Tham & Felix 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-9)
Cadet Girl’s Doubles
Round of 32
Marriott & Anastasiia Stepanova (RUS) (BYE)
Round of 16
Giulia Takahashi (BRA) & Laura Watanabe (BRA) bt Mariott & Stepanova (RUS) 3-1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-3)