Quadri Aruna started 2025 on a high note with a significant win on January 9th, defeating British champion Liam Pitchford to progress to the third round of the men’s singles at the WTT Star Contender Doha in Qatar.
In another match, Egypt’s Dina Meshref faced a 3-1 loss against China’s Chen Yi during the women’s singles competition in the second round.
Remaining as the sole African contender and the fifth seed, Aruna managed to adapt to Pitchford’s playing style, securing his advancement and avoiding an early elimination.
Although he lost the first game 10-12, Aruna staged a comeback, winning the next three games at 11-9, 11-9, 11-9, securing his place in the third round.
Up next, Aruna is set to face Spain’s Alvaro Robles, who also progressed by defeating a Japanese opponent in the second round.
The men’s singles category witnessed a significant upset as the third seed, Patrick Franziska of Germany, was knocked out in the round of 32. Despite initially leading, Franziska lost 3-2 (9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8) to Park Ganghyeon of the Korea Republic.
Meanwhile, French player Thibault Poret continued his impressive performance by defeating No.14 seed Lim Jonghoon of Korea Republic (11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8) to advance to the round of 16 at the WTT Star Contender stage.
In the women’s singles competition, Britt Eerland secured her spot in the last 16 with a notable 3-1 victory over No.14 seed Manika Batra of India (10-12, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3). Eerland overcame an early setback to claim victory in three consecutive games.
Romania’s Bernadette Szocs also displayed remarkable resilience, staging a comeback to defeat China’s Zong Geman in five games (3-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9), showcasing her determination and fighting spirit.