Lily Zhang-Sally Moyland (Photo WTT)
The main draw has arrived at United States Smash, and spectators at Ontario Convention Center were treated to an entertaining first session of action, with United States’ own Lily Zhang-Sally Moyland among the headline acts.
It didn’t take long for Zhang-Moyland to strike up good chemistry, despite competing as a duo for the first time on Sunday afternoon. While their fellow Americans Jessica Reyes Lai-Amy Wang put up a brave fight, they were eventually bested in a little under 25 minutes, as Zhang and Moyland took home the 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 11-2 win.
Speaking after the match, an ecstatic Sally Moyland spoke about the privilege she felt playing alongside Lily Zhang for the first time, and the pride she felt stepping into the arena in front of the American fans.
There was more women’s doubles drama in the session, with jaw-dropping comebacks coming on Tables 2 and 4.
Yangzi Liu-Nina Mittelham found late inspiration in their showdown with Hana Goda-Dina Meshref, fighting back from two games down to defeat the Egyptian pair 6-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8.
And there was more to come from Bernadette Szocs-Elizabeta Samara, who live to fight another day following an epic comeback of their own against Manika Batra-Jee Minhyung 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5.
There was early heartbreak for USA’s Bosman Botha-Jishan Liang over in the men’s doubles draw, losing out to German giants Patrick Franziska-Dimitrij Ovtcharov in their opening round encounter 11-4, 11-5, 11-2.
Alexis Lebrun-Satsuki Odo also shined against Thibault Poret-Prithika Pavade, weathering a storm to deny their opponents at the last 6-11, 14-12, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6.
