Hsueh Hsuan Yi of Taiwan beat Tang Jie Chen of Malaysia 21-13, 21-19 at the NZ Open yesterday. Photo / Nick Reed
Hsueh Hsuan Yi of Taiwan beat Tang Jie Chen of Malaysia 21-13, 21-19 at the NZ Open yesterday. Photo / Nick Reed
It was a tough opening round for the Kiwi players when the New Zealand Open began at the North Shore Events Centre yesterday. But there's no surprise in that, given the high quality of the field for the US$120,000 ($156,000) SkyCity-sponsored Open.
All the New Zealand women bowed out inthe first round of singles against international opposition.
Vicki Copeland and 14-year-old Tamara Otene went out in straight games to Taiwan's Hung Shih Han and Japan's Natsuki Nidaira respectively.
"That was so nerve-racking," said Westlake Girls High pupil Otene, the youngest player in the field.
"It was very intimidating but a good experience to help me when I am older and playing international tournaments."
Australian Alice Wu cleaned up Rebecca Goddard 21-10, 21-12, Gaea Mari Galvez won 15 points against Malaysia's Julia Pein Xian Wong; another Australian, Tiffany Ho, beat Alyse Derby 21-16, 21-10 and Soomi Lina Lee lost to Indonesian Maria Kusumastuti.
In the men's singles, there was a pointer to the calibre of the field when sixth-seeded Indonesian Simon Santoso was eliminated in straight games by China's world junior champion, Lin Gui Pu, 21-12, 21-9.
"I have been practising very hard to be ready for this match and this tournament. I think my physical condition helped me to win this game," Pu said.
