Belarus Open: Serbian Shock Winner in Minsk
Sunday, May 31, 2009
ITTF Press Release
Serbia’s 21 year old Zolt Pete was the shock winner of the Men’s Singles title at the Stag Belarus Open in Minsk on Sunday 31st May 2009; whilst Korea’s Dang Ye Seo was the most successful player after five days of intense competition.
Currently standing at no.183 on the ITTF Men’s World Ranking list and seeded no.21 in Minsk, the talented Serbian left hander beat the Czech Republic’s Tomas Konecny, seeded no.16, in the semi-finals, before overcoming Poland’s eleventh seeded Bartosz Such in the final, the latter having ousted Belgian teenager Benjamin Rogiers at the penultimate stage.
Furthermore, Pete won the hard way; both semi-final and final encounters went the full seven games distance.
It was Pete’s first ever title on the ITTF Pro Tour as it was for Korea’s Dang Ye Seo. She clinched Women’s Singles gold and partnered Park Young Sook, to Women’s Doubles success.
Seeded no.3, the Korean caused a semi-final surprise by beating Austria’s top seeded Liu Jia in the semi-finals before accounting Li Xue of France, seeded no.7, in the final; the latter having defeated Park Young Sook at the penultimate stage.
Defeat for Park Young Sook in the Women’s Singles event but success in the Women’s Doubles with Dang Ye Seo. Seeded no.6, the duo accounted for Linda Creemers and Carla Nouwen of the Netherlands, seeded no.5, at the final hurdle.
Meanwhile, in the Men’s Doubles event it was success for Austria’s Mathias Habesohn and Christoph Simoner; seeded no.6, they beat top seeds Tomas Konecny and Dmitrij Prokopcov in the final.
Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Bartosz Such (POL) bt Benjamin Rogiers (BEL) 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11, 11-6
Zolt Pete (SRB) bt Tomas Konecny (CZE) 12-10, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6
Final
Zolt Pete (SRB) bt Bartosz Such (POL) 7-11, 11-7, 13-11, 6-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7
Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Dang Ye Seo (KOR) bt Liu Jia (AUT) 10-12, 11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6
Li Xue (FRA) bt Park Young Sook (KOR) 12-10, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9
Final
Dang Ye Seo (KOR) bt Li Xue (FRA) 11-5, 11-3, 14-12, 11-8
Men’s Doubles
Final
Mathias Habesohn / Christoph Simoner (AUT) bt Tomas Konecny / Dmitrij Prokopcov (CZE) 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 8-11, 12-10
Women’s Doubles
Final
Dang Ye Seo / Park Young Sook (KOR) bt Linda Creemers / Carla Nouwen (NED) 11-9, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4
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