(by Steve Hopkins)
Tomokazu Harimoto is the highest seed at the WTT Contender Series event in Zagreb this week, but with 18 players in the World’s Top 50 competing, there was no easy path through this draw. And for a top seed, Harimoto had a tougher draw than expected. The first test was China’s Xu Yingbin, who had already won three matches earlier in the week just to qualify. Xu won the first two games before Harimoto found his stride – a comeback 3-2 win to start the tournament for the top seed. Harimoto had an easy 3-0 second round on Friday but then faced off against Togami – the player that eliminated him a week ago in Ljubijana. The scores were reversed this week, with Harimoto winning the first two games, and then holding on for a tight 3-2 victory. And in the Semifinals, Harimoto faced a dangerous Simon Gauzy, but had no trouble – a 3-0 win to reach the Final.
In the other half of the draw, it was China’s Chen Yuanyu turning heads. Entering the event as World No. 25 (and the 8th seed in the event), the 19 year old upset Benedikt Duda (World No. 11) and An Jaehyun (World No. 17) on his way to the Final. Chen was the beneficiary of another upset, as second seeded Xiang Peng fell to Huang Youzheng. But there is no denying that Chen has earned his spot in the Final, as he has already eliminated two of the seven players seeded above him. In regard to a preview of the Final, these two have only faced each other once – and in that match (five months ago), it was Chen that came out on top with a 4-2 win over Harimoto.
In Women’s Singles, Sunday’s Final will be between Japan’s Satsuki Odo and China’s Shi Xunyao. The only event where the Final has already occurred is Mixed Doubles where Korean pair Lim Jonghoon and Shin Yubin won. Men’s and Women’s Doubles Finals are scheduled for Sunday.
The next major event scheduled is the United States Smash which starts July 3rd in Las Vegas. American fans will also see our stars playing between now and then, as the US Nationals just started today in California.
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