(by Steve Hopkins)

In Men’s Singles it was No. 25 Chuang Chih-Yuan of Taipei over No. 33 Benedikt Duda, and in Women’s Singles it was Japan’s Haruna Ojio over USA’s Lily Zhang.

At No. 33, Duda is Germany’s sixth highest ranked player so he does not have as many opportunities to play internationally as he did a few years ago when he was in their top three.  Chuang Chih-Yuan, on the other hand, sees lots of action as the second ranked player on the Taipei team (behind Lin Yun-Ju).  The two evenly matched players had a tight match today with Duda winning the first two games, Chuang winning the next three (including one where both were tied at 9 and one where both were tied at 10).  But Chuang went up 3-2 and they split the final two games – Chuang wins 4-3.

Lily Zhang was the best story of the Women’s Singles event.  She beat Li Yu-Jhaun (World No. 81), then Chen Szu-Yu (World No. 28),  and then Asuka Sasao (World No. 92), before falling in the Final to Haruna Ojio (one of Japans two female phenoms – this one age 16).

Other results of note – USA’s Jishan Liang upset England’s Paul Drinkhall.  Last week’s Feeder Fremont Finalist Tom Jarvis fell in the opening round this week (to Japan’s Shunsuke Togami).  USA’s Mishel Levinski won his opening match before falling second-seeded Yukiya Uda.  USA’s Wenzhang Tao and Sharon Alguetti both made it to the Round of 16.

In Mixed Doubles, Chen Szu-Yu and Chuang Chih Yuan topped France’s Jordy Piccolin and Jamilia Laurenti 3-1.  Lily Zhang and Kai Zhang fell in the Semis to Piccolin/Jamilia so they will finish in third.  The Men’s Doubles title went to Uda/Togami.  The Women’s Doubles title went to the Japanese team of Sasao and Mori who topped the American team of Amy Wang and Jiangshan Guo 3-1.

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