Successful start for Tapper and Powell at Australian Open

VIS table tennis duo Melissa Tapper and David Powell progress to the round of 32 at ITTF Australian Open.

Melissa Tapper has had a promising performance at the ITTF Australian Open as she prepares for the Rio Olympic and Paralympics.

Tapper beat fellow Australian Ju-Fang Hsueh 11-5, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 in qualification group four before overcoming Fiji’s Sally Yee 11-3, 11-3, 11-3, 11-1.

In the round of 32 Tapper was defeated by the top seed, world number 21, Hitomi Sato of Japan in straight sets 2-11,10-12,10-12,9-11.

Watch the match highlights below:

David Powell started his Australian Open campaign strongly with a 4-0 victory over Frenchman Fabrice Balazi 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4.

Powell’s tournament also ended in the round of 32, being defeated by Yuki Morita of Japan 1-4, 9-11, 5-11, 9-11, 5-11.

Watch the match highlights below:

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