Wales and Great Britain’s Anna Hursey made a winning start in doubles at the World Youth Championships in Romania, but England’s Kacper Piwowar could not repeat her success.
Hursey, who played alongside Romanian Iulian Chirita in the Under-19 Mixed Doubles, had a tough draw against Wen Ruibo & Zong Geman in the first round.
When they lost the first two games 11-9 and 12-10, it was a long way back, despite the close score. So when the Europeans took a 10-1 lead in the third inning, it was a surprise.
They went on to win that 11-4 and went level with an 11-9 margin in Game 4. They were two points away from elimination, but won five in a row while trailing 9-6. With confidence flowing, they pulled back from 4-4 in the decider to make it 11-8.
They then faced the third seeds, Steven Moreno and Edmarie Leon of Puerto Rico, in the last 16 and won it in three consecutive matches, albeit again in close games.
The first was 11-9 – they won two points from 9-9, and the second 13-11 when they took their fourth game point. They then won the third 11-9, again from 9-9.
In the quarter-finals they will face Flavien Coton and Leana Hochart from France.
Piwowar partnered Mariia Lytvyn in the Under-15 Mixed and the pair had an opening 9-8 in the first against higher-ranked Ritvik Gupta and Ananya Muralidharan of India in the round of 32.
But that was as good as it got as their opponents won three points in a row to take the first and then complete a 3-0 (9, 5, 5) victory.
Piwowar and Mark Gergely start their campaign in the U15 Boys Doubles on Wednesday against second seeds Zhou Ghuanhong and Yu Haiyang of China.
Hursey and Mia Griesel of Germany will face Sally Moyland (USA) and Kheith Cruz (PHI) in the first round of the U19 Girls Doubles.
The singles starts on Thursday, with Piwowar taking on third seed Danilo Faso of Italy and Hursey – the best player in the U19s – facing Czech Veronika Polakova.
Piwowar has a big task against Faso, who last month became the youngest player to compete in the European Senior Team Championships and who shone in the team competition at the event, winning two games at deuce in the fifth, while Italy defeated China in the semi-finals.
Results
Mixed doubles under 19 years
Round of 32
Iulian Chiriter (ROU) & Anna Hursey (WAL) bt When Ruibo & Zong Geman (CHN) 3-2 (9-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9, 11-8)
Round of 16
3-0 (PUR) 3-0 (PUR)
Mixed doubles under 15 years
Round of 32
Ritvik Gupta & Determined Enumuligation (ind) BT Kaacper Piwowawar & Discussion Lyvyn (Aut) 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 11-5)
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