MUSCAT: Japan’s mixed double duo, World No 4 Tomokazu Harimoto and World No 8 Hina Hayata beat Puerto Rico's pair of Daniel Gonzalez and Adriana Diaz 3-0 (11-3, 11-5, 11-3) to advance into quarterfinals of mixed doubles event at WTT Contender Muscat 2023 on Wednesday. Harimoto and Hayata will meet their teammates Miwa Harimoto and Sora Matsushima in the quarterfinals as they defeated Zhu Chengzhu and Lam Siu Hang from Hong Kong 3-1 (13-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5).
Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto also sealed berth in the last 16 round in the men’s singles event as he defeated Martin Allegro from Belgium 3-1 (12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 11-2). Japan’s Hina Hayata also progressed to the last 16 round in the women’s singles event as she beat Tatiana Kukulkova 3-0.
The third edition of WTT Contender Muscat 2023 reached to its excited final rounds. On Thursday, the mega event will feature Round of 16 matches of women's singles and men's singles while quarterfinals in men's, women's and mixed doubles categories and semifinals in mixed doubles will also be staged.
Spanish duo of Maria Xiao and Alvaro Robles secured slot in the quarterfinals after they stunned Hong Kong duo of NG Wing Lam and Wong Chun Ting 3-2 in a tight clash. Mixed pair of Singapore comprising Wong Xin Ru and Pang Yew En Koen will meet the Spanish paddlers in the quarterfinal as they won against Anna Hursey and Liam Pitchford 3-1.
Oman’s doubles duo of Muhanad al Balushi and Asad al Raisi received a 3-0 loss against Bence Majoros and Avatar Nandor Ecseki from Hungary. The triumph moved the Hungarian paddlers to the quarters.
Sweden's men’s doubles team featuring Anton Kallberg and Kristian Karlsson registered a 3-1 win over South Korea's Lim Jonghoon and An Jaehyun to enter the quarterfinals. The Swedish paddlers will meet Germany's Dang Qiu and Benedikt Duda as they beat Li Hon Ming (Hong Kong) and Ludovic Gombos (USA).
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