(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT)
When the dust finally settled at the WTT Contender event in Skopje, Macedonia, it was Darko Jorgic on top. Jorgic won the event from the second position, defeating Nuytinck, Park, Rassenfosse, and Kallberg on the way to the Final. The other Finalist was USA’s Kanak Jha who started the week as the sixth seed, needing to upset Simon Gauzy (World No. 20), and win a tough match over Hiroto Shinozuka (World No. 32) on his path to face Jorgic.
In the Final, Jha started fast with an 11-3 win in the opening game. The next two games were tight, and unfortunately for Jha both games went to Jorgic – the first a 16-14 marathon, and the next another at 14-12. Jha recovered to win the fourth game to tie it again, but Jorgic finished strong winning the final two games and securing the 4-2 win.
Obviously, Jorgic has taken the top prize. That said, this is a step forward for Jha as well. By reaching the Final, Jha has already added 280 points – enough to jump seven or eight spots in the World rankings. He has been very consistent over the last year, and he is continuing to climb towards the World Top 20.
The Women’s title went to Satsuki Odo who topped second seeded Honoka Hashimoto 4-0. Men’s Doubles went to the Korean team of Lim Jonghoon and Oh Junsung who defeated Darko Jorgic and Deni Kozul. Women’s Doubles went to Odo and Yokoi in an all-Japan Final. And the Japanese team of Kobayashi and Kihara won Mixed Doubles over Esteban Dorr and Adriana Diaz (France/Puerto Rico).
The tour next turns to Zagreb, Croatia where a WTT Contender series will start on Tuesday. Lin Shidong, Dang Qiu, Wen Ruibo, and Darko Jorgic will headline as the top five seeds when action starts later this week.
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