(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT)
The WTT Feeder Spokane II wrapped up this week in Spokane, Washington and one of the high points for American fans was Sally Moytland’s three trips to the podium. Moyland didn’t win an event, but the 18 year old American star finished third in Women’s Singles, finished third in Women’s Doubles, and finished second in Mixed Doubles. Moyland’s finishes were the high point for TeamUSA in Spokane as those were the only three trips to the podium for any American.
In the Men’s Singles event, top seeded Aditya Sareen fell in the Round of 16 to Yuhi Sakai, and Spokane I winner Leo De Nodrest lost his Round of 32 match to Irvin Bertrand. Ultimately each Semifinal was a matchup between a Japanese planer and a Korea player with the Korean players advancing. Park Ganghyon defeated Kazuhiro Yoshimura 3-1, Park Gyuhyeon defeated Yuhi Saka 3-0, and in the Final it was Gyuhyeon over Ganghyeon 3-2. Two Americans reached the Round of 16 with Sid Naresh falling to Kazuhiro Yoshimura and Xiangjing Zhang losing to Park Ganghyeon.
Sally Moyland won three matches in Women’s Singles before losing 3-1 to Finalist Saki Shibata. The other Semifinal was between Kaho Akae and Hitomi Sato and the eventual winner was Kaho Akae with a 3-2 win over Shibata.
Six Korean teams entered Men’s Doubles, and two of those teams reached the Final. The Men’s Doubles title went to the event’s top seeded team, Park Gyuhyeon and Woo Hyeonggyu. Sally Moyland and Amy Wang made a deep run in Women’s Doubles, but fell to the top seeded team and eventual winners Hitomi Sato and Saki Shibata. Moyland’s teamed with Jishan Liang in Mixed Doubles and they reached the Finals, losing a tough 3-2 match to Koreans Kim Woojin and Yang Ha Eun.
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