Nine English players played in WTT Star Contender Lignano in Italy last week in four different age categories.
In the Under-19s, Max Radiven, Rohan Dani and Kacper Piwowar all advanced from their groups, having won one each and lost one to their respective opponents. Dani and Piwowar put up a good fight in their respective Round of 64 matches against Benjamin Girlinger of Austria and Lowis Vogler of Switzerland, but ultimately lost. Max Radiven, on the other hand, had to dig deep to claim a positive result, winning the fifth end 11-9 against Italian Jacopo Cipriano. In the Round of 32, he was unable to compete and lost 3–0 to eventual U19 Boys’ Singles winner Felipe Arado of Brazil.
In the Under-17 event, seven players from the England contingent took part in the group stage, with four advancing to the knockout stages. Aarav Parihar, Theo Kniep and Oscar Nikolli could not claim crucial victories, despite strong performances against players who reached the semi-finals (Danilo Faso of Italy). Jake Davidson and Max Radiven split their groups with a win and a loss each, while Rohan Dani and Kacper Piwowar wiped out their group stage opposition to top their respective tables.
With all four players receiving a bye to the Round of 64, Radiven, Piwowar and Dani all progressed with victories over Ivan Kahn (Netherlands), Sasha Campagne (France) and Bryan Zheng (Belgium), while Jake Davidson was defeated by Spaniard Luca Khidasheli in straight sets. The Round of 32 would be the end of the road for England’s representation in the U17s as none of the remaining trios could defeat Min Ming (China), Titouan Morel-Gonzales (France) or Dario Salcedo (Spain), despite close sets in each matchup.
Six English players took part in the Under-15 Boys’ Singles event. There were group stage exits for Aarav Parihar, Oscar Nikolli and Rishaan Sawant, with Jake Davidson, Thoe Kniep and Dimitar Dimitrov all battling through their respective groups to reach the Round of 64. This round proved to showcase three very exciting matches for all the English youngsters as Davidson was eliminated by eventual quarter-finalist Marin Jean of France, 3-2. Dimitrov missed out on a spot in the round of 32 to Spain’s Marcos Gomez (3-1), while Kniep also suffered a narrow defeat to another Spaniard Mateo Lois, 3-2.
Finally, in the Under-13 Boys’ Singles, Dimitar Dimitrov and Rishaan Sawant were the English participants, and both sailed through the group stages, with Dimitrov even beating Junior Aruna, the son of Nigerian superstar Quadri Aruna. But the knockout stages presented two more big tests. Dimitrov lost 3-0, but came as close as you can get without taking a set, with the score ending at 14-12, 11-9, 11-9 for Singapore’s Jonas Chia. Rishaan Sawant managed to put an end to Pietro Campagna, but the Italian proved too strong and eventually advanced to the semi-finals before succumbing to defeat.
Results
Boys singles under 19 years old
Qualification group 10
Max Radiven
Jindrich Moravek (CZE) with Max Radiven 3-2 (7-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4)
Max Radiven and Matteo Fantoni (ITA) 3-2 (5-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8)
Qualification group 21
Rohan Dani
Rohan Dani bt Jakub Kabelka (CZE) 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4)
Abishek Vepa (SUI) BT Rohan Dani 3-1 (11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8)
Qualification group 25
Kacper Piwowar
Kacper Piwowar vs Sirio Meloni (ITA) 3-2 (11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 10-12, 11-8)
Artur Gromek (POL) vs Kacper Piwowar 3-0 (11-6, 16-14, 12-10)
Round of 64
Giringar Betress (AUT) Dani 3-1 (8-11, 11-2, 11-9)
Lowis Vogler (SUI) with Kacper Piwowar 3-2 (11-9, 4-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-5)
Max Radiven bt Jacopo Cipriano (ITA) 3-2 (14-12, 11-1, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9)
Round of 32
Felipe Arado (BRA) bt Max Radiven 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-5)
Boys singles under 17 years old
Qualification group 3
Aarav Parihar
Danilo Faso (ITA) vs Aarav Parihar 3-0 (13-11, 11-3, 11-3)
Roger Quesada (ESP) vs Aarav Parihar 3-0 (11-5, 12-10, 11-9)
Qualification group 6
Jake Davidson
Nazarii Solodkyi (UKR) v Jake Davidson 3-0 (11-5, 11-1, 11-2)
Jake Davidson Bt Augustinus Agustin (ARG) 3-1), 5-11, 11-9, 11-9)
Qualification group 14
Rohan Dani
Rohan Dani Bt Luciano Medrano (NED) 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-8)
Rohan Dani bt Miroslav Schmidt (BUL) 3-2 (5-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-2, 11-7)
Qualification group 19
Kacper Piwowar
Kacper Piwowar with Liam Bouchoir (FRA) 3-2 (4-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9)
Kacper Piwowar vs Lior Seref (ISR) 3-1 (9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4)
Qualification group 24
Max Radiven
Erik Paulina (ITA) bt Max Radiven 3-1 (11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9)
Max Radiven of Lee Ao Ling (MAS) (11-2, 13-11, 11-2)
Qualification group 27
Theo Kniep
Yalley Mor (ISR) against Theo Knap 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-5)
giulio campag (now) bt theo kneep 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-2)
Qualification group 31
Oscar Nicholas
Alvaro Gimeno (ESP) vs Oscar Nikolli 3-2 (4-11, 12-1-, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7)
Natanel Abramov (ISR) vs Oscar Nicolli 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-4)
Round of 64
Max Radiven bt Ivan Kahn (NED) 3-2 (11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7)
Kacper Piwowar bt Sasha Campagne (FRA) 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5)
Luca Khidasheli (ESP) v Jake Davidson 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-8)
Rohan Dani vs. Bryan Zhang (BEL) 3-1 (11-9, 4-11, 11-4, 11-6)
Round of 32
Min Ming (CHN) bt Max Radiven 3-1 (12-14, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3)
Titouan Morel-Gonzales (FRA) vs Kacper Piwowar 3-2 (11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8)
Dario Salcedo (ESP) b.
Boys singles under 15 years old
Qualification group 16
Jake Davidson
Titouan Morel-Gonzales (FRA) with Jake Davidson 3-1 (11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7)
Jake Davidson vs. Ilay Davidov (ISR) 3-2 (9-11, 11-7, 11-3, 8-11, 11-7)
Qualification group 18
Aarav Parihar
Miroslav Schmidt (BUL) with Aarav Parihar 3-1 (7-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-4)
Riccardo Grulliero (ITA) vs. Aarav Parihar 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-6)
Qualification group 21
Theo Kniep
Louis Fegerl (AUT) against Theo Kniep (11-6, 11-5, 11-8)
Theo Kniep vs Kevin Ahlers (NED) 3-1 (10-12, 11-3, 11-8, 11-8)
Qualification group 22
Oscar Nicholas
Lucas Simon (FRA) vs Oscar Nikolli 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-3)
Marcos Gomez (ESP) vs Oscar Nikolli 3-2 (6-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7)
Qualification group 24
Dimitar Dimitrov
Dimitar Dimitrov vs. Alessandro Peluso (ITA) 3-1 (2-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3)
Dimitar Dimitrov vs. Bryan Zhang (BEL) 3-2 (11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 11-6)
Qualification group 26
Rishaan Sawant
Roger Quesada (ESP) vs Rishaan Sawant 3-0 (12-10, 11-5, 14-12)
Rishaan Sawant by Nathanael Singer (FRA) 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8)
Alan Bryk (POL) with Rishaan Sawant 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 11-8)
Round of 64
Marin Jean (FRA) w/Jake Davidson 3-2 (12-10, 9-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-6)
Marcos Gomez (ESP) vs. Dimitar Dimitrov 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5)
Mateo Lois (ESP) with Theo Kniep 3-2 (11-8, 4-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-3)
Singles for boys under 13 years old
Qualification group 4
Dimitar Dimitrov
Dimitar Dimitrov vs Federico Casula (ITA) 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-5)
Dimitar Dimitrov bt Junior Aruna (NGR) 3-1 (11-7, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7)
Qualification group 10
Rishaan Sawant
Jan Slavec (ITA) with Rishaan Sawant 3-1 (11-3, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8)
Rishaan Sawant vs Nathaniel Lim (SGP) 3-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-2)
Round of 32
Jonas Chia (SGP) vs Demitar Dimitrove 3-0 (14-12, 11-9, 11-9)
Pietro Campagna (ITA) with Rishaan Sawant 3-1 (11-9, 11-3, 4-11, 11-3)
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