Defeat was the order of proceedings for no less than eight players, who had received direct entries in the top half of the Men’s Singles draw at the Erke Austrian Open in Salzburg on Friday 31st October 2008.
Russia’s Fedor Kuzmin, Germany’s Lars Hielscher, India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta, Japan’s Taku Takakiwa, Slovakia’s Thomas Keinath plus the Chinese Taipei duo of Chiang Hung-Chieh and Wu Chih-Chi all suffered defeat whilst for the host nation’s Chen Weixing, the seventh seed, it was a reverse without raising his racket in anger. He withdrew before battle had even commenced affording Hungary’s Daniel Zwickl a walk-over.
Emerging Generation
Defeats and they were largely at the hands of the emerging generation.
Notably Croatia’s Andrej Gacina continues to impress; he beat Russia’s Fedor Kuzmin in six games whilst England’s 18 year old Paul Drinkhall was in particularly good form.
He recorded a five games victory over India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta.
Youth versus Youth
Meanwhile, in the contests were youth faced youth it was Chinese Taipei that suffered. Chiang Hung-Chieh was beaten by the ever improving Latvian Matiss Burgiss, whilst Wu Chih-Chi suffered at hands of Germany’s Patrick Baum.
Slightly older, Adam Robertson of Wales maintained the form he had shown in the group stage to beat Lars Hielscher, whilst Hungary’s Peter Fazekas overcame Thomas Keinath and the Czech Republic’s Tomas Konecny ended the hopes of Taku Takakiwa.
Austrian Success
The absence of Chen Weixing was undoubtedly a disappointment for the Austrian crowd but there was more than compensation.
Werner Schlager defeated the Czech Republic’s Antonin Gavlas and Robert Gardos overcame Hungary’s Peter Musko.
Good Form
Also in form for the rising generation was Portugal’s Marcos Freitas, he overcame Croatia’s Tomislav Zubcic whilst the voice of experience and no lack of speed saw Poland’s Lucjan Blaszczyk defeat Russia’s Alexei Liventsov and Portugal’s João Monteiro defeat Belgium’s Benjamin Rogiers.
Experience
Success for rising stars and those with experience whilst the established stars were also in good form; Croatia’s Zoran Primorac defeated Brazil’s Gustavo Tsuboi, Russia’s Alexei Smirnov overcame the host nation’s Feng Xiaoquan and top seed, Germany’s Timo Boll ended the hopes of Berenhard Presslmayer, also from Austria.
Source: www.ittf.com
