Park Gahyeon (Photo WTT)
Eighteen-year-old Park Gahyeon kicked off her WTT Star Contender Muscat main draw campaign in style, as she recovered from a 0-2 game deficit to defeat World No.46 Yeh Yi-Tian 14-16, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 in the women’s singles first round.
It was excitement from the very get-go on, with the opening game entering the depths of deuce, while the second also proving very tight, but both would favour the higher-ranked player, Yi-Tian.
Things looked bleak for the World No. 87 ranked Gahyeon. The Korean player desperately needed to pull something out of the bag if she was going to survive her rival’s onslaught.
And she did just that. In a burst of brilliance, the wildcard hit back with added interest, claiming the next three games in a row to boot Yi-Tian from the running, and book her own spot in the Round of 32.
Vlada Voronina’s run continued in Muscat, the qualifier having shocked match favourite Jiamuwa Wu with a spotless display, the former winning without dropping a game 11-4, 11-4, 11-7.
There were more upsets as Christina Kallberg toppled World No. 58 Fu Yu in a dramatic struggle, winning 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8. Meanwhile, Yu’s compatriot Jieni Shao followed Voronina’s example, as the Portuguese player defeated Diya Chitale in three straight games 11-8, 13-11, 11-4.
Elizabet Abraamian returned from the brink to upset higher-ranked player Hana Arapovic, winning 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-4.
Fans were gripped from the very first point at Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex, with underdog Abraamian taking an early lead, the 22-year-old clinching a tight opening game 11-9.
Her Croatian opponent would retaliate, however, showcasing breathtaking table tennis to turn the tide of fortune, Arapovic winning the next two in a row to hold a 1-2 game advantage.
It looked over for Abraamian as play progressed in the fourth game, as she now trailed 1-7 in points. But Abraamian simply refused defeat, hitting back to win the game with a staggering 12-10 scoreline.
Momentum had now shifted, and with Arapovic still reeling from the previous game, Abraamian stormed ahead to an 8-4 lead in the decider, only to win the next four points in a row to take the game in style, leaving a stunned Araprovic behind in the dust.
Now through to the Round of 32, Abraamian must prepare for her toughest challenge yet, World No.19 Cheng I-Ching, the two players due to lock horns on Thursday afternoon.
Sutirtha Mukherjee was another player who impressed, as she shocked match favourite Lee Daeun in a five-game thriller 8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 14-12.
Meanwhile, qualifier Joe Seyfried made it through to the men’s singles opening round, following his spectacular 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6 triumph over compatriot Leo De Nodrest.
The two Frenchman had never met at a WTT Series event, but the odds appeared against Seyfried, facing WTT Feeder Spokane 2025 champion De Nodrest, a player over 60 spots higher than him in ranking.
Indian ace Manush Shah also found himself in the next stage in Muscat, having dispatched Romanian qualifier Darius Movileanu 11-7, 11-4, 11-9, while Swede Kristian Karlsson defeated Adrien Rassenfosse 11-7, 11-5, 11-6.
Also through to the next stage were Kazuki Hamada and Cho Daeseong, the duo each winning their respective opening battles against Youssef Abdelaziz 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 and Evgeny Tikhonov 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 respectively.
