Erny Tsao Responds, Follows Advice to Book Main Draw Place
2015 ITTF World Tour Australia Open

Courtesy of ITTF

Semi-finalist just over one year ago in the Boys’ Singles event at the Cook Islands Junior and Cadet Open, Erny Tsao was very much the player from the host nation to catch the eye on the second day of play, Thursday June 4th, at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Australia Open in Tweed Heads.

Impressive performances saw him qualify for the main draw in both the Men’s Singles and Under 21 Men’s Singles events.

In the former, after overcoming colleague, Anthony Zhao (11-1, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8), he was beaten by Belgium’s Cédric Nuytinck (11-4, 11-7, 11-5, 11-1). Results as expected but arguably it was not the situation in the latter.

Vital Contest
On the opening day of play, Erny Tsao beat Australia’s Xavier Dixon (11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8) but then suffered defeat at the hands of Japan’s Yuto Kizukuri (11-4, 11-4, 11-2).

The outcome was that in order to secure a creditable second place in the group he needed to beat Kosei Hirano, like Yuto Kizukuri from Japan. The 18 year old Australian duly responded, kept his nerve and accounted for Kosei Hirano in five games (10-12, 11-7, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6).

Match Point
“I knew this match was very important, the winner qualifies for the next round”, said Erny Tsao. “I had a match point 11-10 in the fourth game, I tried to finish the point too quickly; my coach, Jens Lang, noticed I rushed too much and had to be patient, focus on where I placed the ball.”

The advice was heeded.

“Eventually I was able to win the match; I kept everything tight, played some good shots and didn’t make many errors”, added Erny Tsao. “It was a really good experience as it is not often that I have chance to play with someone of this level.”

Australians in Round One
A hard fought win, the outcome of his efforts is that he is one of three Australians to reserve a place in the main draw of both the Men’s Singles and Under 21 Men’s Singles events; the others being Rohan Dhooria and Ben Gould.

Meanwhile, Ivan Sufaro is through to the main draw in the Under 21 Men’s Singles event; whilst in the Men’s Singles competition a further nine Australians will join William Henzell, in the main draw. He is the no.8 seed.

Jake Duffy, Chamara Fernando, Ben Gould, Justin Han, David Powell, Kane Townsend, Wade Townsend, Chris Yan and Anthony Zhao are all through to the main draw in the Men’s Singles event.

Main Draw Begins
Play in the main draw commences on Friday June 5th.

Visit ITTF.com for more coverage from the 2015 ITTF World Tour, Australia Open (Challenge).