(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT)
The WTT Contender Series is in Brazil this week. Brazil-native Hugo Calderano is the top seed, but Germany and Japan were both strong with each country sending 3 to the Quarterfinals. Japan was 0-3 in their matches, with Yukiya Uda falling to Hugo Calderano 3-0, Yuta Tanaka falling to Korea’s Oh Junsung 3-2, and Kazuki Hamada losing 3-0 to Benedikt Duda. German was fortunate in that it had 3 of 4 Quarterfinalists in the bottom half of the draw. Benedikt Duda advanced over Hamada to reach the Semifinals, and he faced Dimitrij Ovtcharov who topped Dang Qiu in their All-German Quarterfinal. Benedikt Duda then reaffirmed his position as Germany’s top player as the World No. 12 easily dominated Ovtcharov (World No. 33) 3-0.
For the top seed, Calderano dropped a single game in his two opening matches (3-1 and 3-1) before finding his top gear. He has since defeated Yukiya Uda 3-0 in their Quarterfinal match and then absolutely wiped out Oh Jungsung (5, 4, 5) in their Semifinal match. Hugo Calderano and Benedikt Duda will face off tonight, in the last match of the tournament.
Japan’s contingent are the whole story on the Women’s side. Five Japanese women reached the Final 8, and their only loss was in a Japan v. Japan matchup. Miwa Harimoto topped Joo Cheonhui 3-1 and then beat Honoka Hashimoto 3-2 in their Semifinal. Harimoto will face Miyu Nagasaki in the Final. Nagasaki (World No. 20) upset Satsuki Odo (World No. 9) in their Semifinal match.
The Men’s Doubles title went to Benedikt Duda and Dang Qui. The Women’s Doubles title went to Miwa Harimoto and Satsuki Odo. The Mixed Doubles title went to a pair of lesser-known Japanese players, Satoshi Aida and Honoka Hashimoto
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