Ukraine’s 17 year old Margaryta Pesotska was the player to cause the
major upset in the second round of the Women’s Singles event at the
Stag Belarus Open in Minsk on Saturday 30th May 2009 and, in so doing,
broke the hearts of the host nation’s supporters.
Winner of the
Girls’ Singles title at the ITTF Cadet Challenge in the Dominican
Republic in 2005, Pesotska overcame the defensive skills of Viktoria
Pavlovich, the no.2 seed, in six games to book her place in the
quarter-finals. Seeded no.12, she recovered from a two games to nil
deficit to win 4-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8.
Familiar
"I know Viktorya very well", said Margaryta Pesotska. "We play for the same the club."
No
doubt that fact that Pesotska was familiar with the style of play
adopted by the Belarus defender was a bonus but history suggested that
a Pavlovich win was the more likely outcome.
Previous Defeats
"In
tournaments I have played with her twice; both times she won; also,
during practice I don’t think I’ve ever won", continued Pesotska.
"Viktoria is a very good player; it is difficult to play against her."
Nevertheless, Pestoska found a way to win.
Kept Fighting
"I
don’t know how I won, I really don’t know", added Pesotska. "The first
two games were difficult, I lost both of them; I just fought for every
point; always I fight to the very end; winning today was a very
pleasant surprise for me."
Fourth Seed Departs
Defeat
for the no.2 seed and also for the no.4 seed; Germany’s Zhenqi Barthel
was beaten by Korea’s Park Young Sook; the Korean winning in four
straight games, succeeding 11-7, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7.
Qualifier Succeeds
Two
surprises and there was one more; Poland’s Kinga Stefanska who had
struggled in the qualification group stage of proceedings beat
compatriot and no.11 seed, Natalia Partyka.
Stefanska won a titantic seven games struggle by the margin of 14-12, 10-12, 8-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 15-13.
It could not have been closer.
Seeds Win
Three
surprises but no more; top seed, Austria’s Liu Jia defeated Spain’s
Sara Ramirez in straight games (11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 13-11) whilst third
seed, Korea’s Dang Ye Seo overcame Russia’s Polina Mikhaylova (11-8,
11-7, 11-9, 11-8).
Style Suited
Success for Korea but there was defeat.
Seo
Hyo Won, a predominantly backspin player, lost to a young lady who is
very adapt at confronting defensive artists, the host nation’s Veronika
Pavlovich, the twin sister of Viktoria, one of the world’s premier
backspin place.
Veronika Pavlovich won 14-16, 11-6, 11-4, 11-4, 12-10.
Wins for Germany and France
Meanwhile,
in the two remaining second round matches; Germany’s Kristin
Silbereisen, seeded no.8, overcame Russian qualifier Margarita
Fetukhina (9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8) whilst Li Xue of France,
seeded no.7, accounted for Ekaterina Ntoulaki of Greece, seeded no.15,
in four straight games.
Li Xue won 11-9, 11-4, 11-7, 11-4.
Source: www.ittf.com
