Brazilian Open: Schlager tries once more

Brazilian Open Review

Thursday, July 11, 2002

ITTF Press Releases

Schlager tries once more

Sao Paulo, Brazil, 10 July 2002. Austrian top star Werner SCHLAGER was top seeded at the Brazil Open last year, but young Timo BOLL (GER) put a stop to his title dreams. This year SCHLAGER gets another chance. As nr. 7 on the World ranking he is once more the top name in Sao Paulo.

SCHLAGER showed very good form last week reaching the semi-finals at the US Open and he will certainly have no difficulties in finding motivation to try to take his first Pro Tour title in singles since he won the Australian Open in 1996. Since then he has been in 3 finals – and lost.

Among players who could stop him the Koreans OH Sang Eun, RYU Seung Min and LEE Chul Seung should be mentioned. They have all had their moments at the Pro Tour during the last year, and on their good days they can beat anyone.

The two Dutchmen Trinko KEEN and Danny HEISTER will certainly go for it as well.

In Women’s Singles the Korean RYU Ji Hae is the top seed, she already holds several Pro Tour titles, but none from this year. Her major obstacles will be her compatriot KIM Moo Kyo, Austrian LIU Jia and defending champion Aya UMEMURA.

UMEMURA came from (almost) nowhere last year. First she reached the final at the US Open and then she took the title in Brazil. This year she is seeded 4th.

Brazil Open starts on Thursday and finals will be played on Sunday morning.

Schlager set to meet Keen

Sao Paulo, Brazil, 11 July 2002. The main draw for the men’s singles at the Brazil Open might have done 1st seed Werner SCHLAGER (AUT) a little bit more happy. Nothing is easy at the Pro Tour but from a ranking point of view the Austrian got the best draw he could expect.

He is set to meet Trinko KEEN (NED) in the semi-final, and the two top Koreans OH Sang Eun and RYU Seung Min ended up in the other half of the draw.
Still SCHLAGER might find a Korean at the other end of the table if he reaches the semi-final. LEE Chul Seung is there, set to meet Trinko KEEN in the quarter finals, and LEE has shown before that he can beat even top 10 players.

In Women’s Singles the two Koreans RYU Ji-Hae and KIM Moo Kyo are set to meet in the final. Before getting that far however RYU Ji-Hae has to overcame the defending Brazil Open Champion, Aya UMEMURA (JPN)

Champion in qualification

Sao Paulo, Brazil, 11 July 2002. German Zoltan FEJER-KONNERTH won the European Championships in Men’s Doubles in May, but in singles his career has not been running that well during the last year.

KONNERTH slipped down the World Ranking and that’s why he found himself in the qualification groups in Sao Paulo. However he qualified to the last 32 without any problems beating both Andre CAVALCANTE (BRA) and Geovanny COELHO (ECU) 4-0.
Two Brazilians qualified to join the best Brazilian Hugo HOYAMA in the main draw. Other Brazilians might be among the lucky losers who also get access to the round of the last 32, but Thiago MONTEIRO and Hugo HANASHIRO earned their way in.

HANASHIRO played a cliff hanger with nr. 1 seed in the group Yoichi TANIGUSHI (JPN) but in the 7th and decisive game HANASHIRO lead all the way with a few points to win 11-7.

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Brazilian Open: Schlager tries once more

Schlager tries once more

Schlager set to meet Keen

Champion in qualification

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