Duda Defeats Aruna in Familiar Rivalry
🆚 Quadri Aruna (#19) vs. Benedikt Duda (#16)
📊 1:3 (8:11, 11:9, 9:11, 4:11)
These two players know each other well from the Bundesliga, and their international head-to-head was tied at 1-1 before today. Aruna had won their 2019 encounter, but Duda took their most recent match at the WTT Champions event in Montpellier, where he had a phenomenal run to the semifinals.
Once again, Duda showed his strength, edging out the crucial points to secure his spot in the next round. Can he pull off another deep run this time?
An Jaehyun Levels Head-to-Head Against Jha
🆚 Kanak Jha (#28) vs. An Jaehyun (#22)
📊 1:3 (15:17, 8:11, 13:11, 6:11)
These two have been competing against each other since 2016 in junior events. Before today, Jha had a narrow 3-2 lead in their head-to-head, but with his victory, An Jaehyun has now tied it up.
With a solid 3-1 win, the Korean moves into the Round of 16, where he will face Brazil’s Hugo Calderano.
Kuai Man Turns the Match Around Against Akula
🆚 Kuai Man (#7) vs. Sreeja Akula (#32)
📊 3:2 (9:11, 12:10, 7:11, 11:5, 11:2)
Kuai Man entered as the clear favorite. The young Chinese star broke into the Top 10 this year and has her sights set even higher. However, she found herself trailing 1-2 against Akula in a surprising turn of events.
From the fourth game onward, Kuai Man took full control, dominating the last two games to seal the victory.
Ovtcharov Ends Oh Junsung’s Winning Streak
🆚 Oh Junsung (#20) vs. Dimitrij Ovtcharov (#21)
📊 1:3 (4:11, 11:4, 4:11, 7:11)
Oh Junsung came into this match full of confidence after winning the WTT Star Contender last week. Meanwhile, Ovtcharov had a disappointing week in the Bundesliga, as his team, Fulda, narrowly missed the playoffs despite his individual wins.
Today, it was all about him. Ovtcharov played a strong, controlled match, taking three of the four games in dominant fashion to advance to the next round.
Miwa Harimoto Cruises Past Huang Yi-Hua
🆚 Huang Yi-Hua (#30) vs. Miwa Harimoto (#5)
📊 0:3 (6:11, 8:11, 8:11)
Harimoto, just 16 years old, has broken into the Top 5 of the world rankings for the first time, and she played with great confidence today. She secured a straightforward 3-0 victory against Huang Yi-Hua to advance.
Eerland Wins First Meeting Against Jee
🆚 Minhyung Jee (#42) vs. Britt Eerland (#47)
📊 0:3 (11:13, 9:11, 6:11)
This was the first-ever meeting between these two players. Eerland handled the crucial moments well, taking the close first two games before wrapping things up in the third.
Session 1 – Day 3 Results
✅ Benedikt Duda (#16) vs. Quadri Aruna (#19) – 3:1 (8:11, 11:9, 9:11, 4:11)
✅ An Jaehyun (#22) vs. Kanak Jha (#28) – 3:1 (15:17, 8:11, 13:11, 6:11)
✅ Kuai Man (#7) vs. Sreeja Akula (#32) – 3:2 (9:11, 12:10, 7:11, 11:5, 11:2)
✅ Dimitrij Ovtcharov (#21) vs. Oh Junsung (#20) – 3:1 (4:11, 11:4, 4:11, 7:11)
✅ Miwa Harimoto (#5) vs. Huang Yi-Hua (#30) – 3:0 (6:11, 8:11, 8:11)
✅ Britt Eerland (#47) vs. Minhyung Jee (#42) – 3:0 (11:13, 9:11, 6:11)
Photo Source: WTT