Liking for Japanese Adversaries Continues, Once Again Shady Magdy Causes Upset
2016 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open
Courtesy of ITTF

Successful the previous day when he caused a major surprise by beating Toni Ryuzaki, the no.11 seed, in the first round of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event; Egypt’s Shady Magdy maintained his good form and his liking for Japanese adversaries, one day later on Thursday March 17th.

No current world ranking, in the second round of proceedings, he accounted for Kohei Sambe, the no.4 seed, saving three match points in the fourth game, before gaining and early lead the fifth and never looking back (3-11, 12-10, 9-11, 15-13, 11-8).

Narrow Defeat
Equally, in the opening round of the Men’s Singles qualification event, he had been in good form; he had extended Denmark’s Zhai Yujia, listed at no.105 on the current Men’s World Rankings, the full seven games distance (11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 12-14, 11-8).

“Yes, I’m pleased with my form; yesterday against Zhai Yujia I had a chance, I led 8-4 in the seventh game”, said Shady Magdy, who is certainly receiving his money’s worth in Kuwait.

Three matches played; all three have gone the full distance; his win over Tonin Ryuzaki needed a fifth game decider (11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-2).

Stay Focused
“Today when saving the three match points, I really had to push myself to stay focused”, said Shady Magdy. “I had to think about one point at a time and not the score in the match.”

It sounds easy but it is a very difficult task not to let the mind wander; great credit must go to the 20-year-old Egyptian for his mental aptitude.

“It was just the same as yesterday, if I played fast I would lose”, added Shady Magdy. “I had to spin the ball, play with a lot of rotation, slow things down.”

Playing Better and Better
Shady Magdy succeeded; he has been very much the revelation in the early stages of the tournament; furthermore, he is playing better and better.

Also, he has the opportunity to avenge his Men’s Singles defeat; he meets Zhai Yujia, the no.4 seed, at the quarterfinal stage of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event.

Full Distance
Similar to Shady Magdy, Zhai Yujia was involved in full distance second round five games encounter against a Japanese adversary; the no.4 seed, he overcame Ryotaro Ogata in a contest where the Dane trailed 6-8 in the fifth, before emerging successful (12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9).

Confident
Perhaps Shady Magdy would have preferred to have faced Ryotaro Ogata; he is becoming rather proficient against Japanese adversaries! Nevertheless, he is in a confident mood.

“I fell I’m playing now at a good level; I feel there are so many players that I can now beat”, added Shady Magdy. “I think my level is more than 20 per cent higher than a year ago.”

Second Round Defeat
Success for Shady Magdy who had impressed, the previous day; alas for Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko who in the opening round of the Men’s Singles qualification stage, had beaten Spain’s Alvaro Robles against expectations, it was a second round Under 21 Men’s Singles defeat.

The no.16 seed, he was beaten by Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, the top seed (11-9, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6).

“I’d seen him play two years ago at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, so I knew his style of play but today was the first time that I had played against him”, said Hugo Calderano. “He plays with a lot of spin and he is more powerful than he looks; physically, he’s in good condition.”

Favorites Prevailed
Success for Hugo Calderano as anticipated; it was the same in the remaining second round Under 21 Men’s Singles matches, the favorites prevailed.

Portugal’s João Geraldo, the no.3 seed, accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Yang Tzu-Yi, the no.13 seed (11-4, 11-4, 11-6); whilst also in the top half of the draw, Korea’s Lim Jonghoon, the no.7 seed, defeated Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang, the no.12 seed (6-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-5).

Similarly, Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa, the no.8 seed, ended the hopes of Austria’s David Serfaroglu, the no.18 seed (11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-3).

Tristan Flore
Meanwhile, in the one remaining contest; in the lower half of the draw, Frenchman Tristan Flore, the no.6 seed, overcame Thailand’s Padasak Tanviriyavechakul, the 15 seed (11-5, 11-6, 11-9).

Visit the 2016 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open official page for results and more tournament information.