Tianer Yu is into the semi-finals at WTT Youth Contender Lignano in Italy.

The English girl won her group without dropping a game and then recovered from 2-1 down to win her last-16 tie against Marion Aubert of France 3-2.

Seeded fifth, Yu was up against third seed Irina Gimeno of Spain, who at No 79 on the Junior world rankings list is 18 places above Yu, in the quarter-finals. Yu struck first, winning five points on the bounce from 6-5 down on her way to claiming the first game.

Yu did not face any game points in the second, but it took her five attempts of her own before securing the game 14-12, and she stayed ahead through the third to complete victory and move into the last four.

In the semi-finals, Yu will face fourth seed Lizett Fazekas of Croatia at 4pm UK time on Tuesday, on Table 2. Follow on the WTT YouTube channel.

Results

Under-19 Girls’ Singles
Qualifying group 5
Tianer Yu bt Klara Koncar (CRO) 3-0 (11-2, 11-2, 11-7)
Yu bt Malichanh Bonneterre (FRA) 3-0 (11-6, 11-2, 12-10)

Round of 16
Yu bt Marion Aubert (FRA) 3-2 (5-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-8, 11-5)

Quarter-finals
Yu bt Irina Gimeno (ESP) 3-0 (11-7, 14-12, 11-6)

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WTT Youth Contender Senec

In the previous competition in Senec, Slovakia, Yu reached the quarter-finals where she was beaten 3-1 (12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 13-11) by the world No 18 Junior and top seed Constantina Psihogios of Australia, who went on to win the event.

Yu had earlier defeated fellow GB pathway player Hannah Silcock of Jersey in three games in the last 16 as she reached the quarters without dropping a game in group or knockout matches.

Results

Under-19 Girls’ Singles
Qualifying group 7
Tianer Yu bt Varvara Zaitsava (BLR) 3-0 (11-3, 11-3, 12-10)
Yu bt Nina Nikolova (BUL) 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-8)

Round of 32
Yu bt Rebeka Nagy (HUN) 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-5)

Round of 16
Yu bt Hannah Silcock (JEY) 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-7)

Quarter-finals
Constantina Psihogios (AUS) bt Yu 3-1 (12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 13-11)