Taiwo Mati’s WTT Contender Skopje 2025 journey ended prematurely with consecutive defeats on the opening day of the men’s singles competition. The Nigerian athlete began his campaign against Spain’s Diego Lillo, engaging in a closely contested five-set thriller. Despite winning the first and third games, Mati couldn’t maintain the momentum, ultimately succumbing to Lillo’s resilience in a 3-2 (8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8) defeat. The match statistics highlighted the narrow margins, with Lillo edging Mati by just four points overall. While Mati held a maximum lead of three points, Lillo’s decisive four-point streak at a crucial juncture proved pivotal in securing the victory for the Spaniard.
Mati’s second match against Japan’s Ryoichi Yoshiyama proved to be a more one-sided affair. The Nigerian struggled to cope with Yoshiyama’s aggressive playing style and superior court coverage, resulting in a swift 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-9) defeat. Yoshiyama’s dominance was evident in the point differential, with the Japanese player accumulating 33 points to Mati’s 19. A significant lead of seven points further underscored Yoshiyama’s control over the match. Although Mati displayed moments of resilience, particularly in the third game where he narrowed the gap, he couldn’t sustain the challenge, marking an early exit from the tournament.
The WTT Contender Skopje 2025, hosted at the Sports Center Jane Sandanski in North Macedonia, showcases a competitive lineup, featuring prominent figures like European top seed Darko Jorgic and world number nine Satsuki Odo. Players are vying for a substantial USD 100,000 prize pool and crucial ITTF world ranking points. The tournament promises intense competition and high-stakes matches as players strive to progress through the various stages.
Beyond Mati’s matches, the opening day witnessed a series of compelling encounters, including several straight-set victories. Serbia’s Nikola Dilas dispatched Romania’s Daniel Movileanu 3-0, while Japan’s Koji Yoshimura recorded a similar victory against North Macedonia’s Ljupco Stojcev. Spain’s Manuel Pantoja continued the trend with a convincing win over North Macedonia’s Aleksandar Jakimovski. These decisive victories underscore the high level of skill and competition on display at the tournament.
Other matches showcased hard-fought battles that extended to five sets. Turkey’s İsmail Gunduz secured a comfortable 3-0 win against Puerto Rico’s Orlando Birriel, contrasting with the closely contested match between Spain’s Albert Vilardell and Belgium’s Laurens Devos, which Vilardell ultimately won 3-2. In a similar five-set encounter, Turkey’s Ali Yigenler overcame compatriot Tolga Yilmaz, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the competition. Slovenia’s Peter Hribar, Denmark’s Mads Andersen, and Puerto Rico’s Alejandro Naranjo added to the list of victories with convincing 3-0 wins against their respective opponents.
The tournament also saw several players face challenging opponents from China. Serbia’s Dusan Levajac lost to Sun Y., while Austria’s Maksymilian Kolodziejczyk engaged in a tight battle against Tianyang Li, ultimately losing 2-3. Other notable results included France’s Amine Kouraichi’s 3-2 victory over Greece’s Konstantinopoulos, Romania’s Andrei Istrate overcoming Serbia’s Vladan Pandurevic 3-1, and South Korea’s Kwon Hyeok’s 3-0 triumph over North Macedonia’s Kristijan Stanojkovski. These diverse results reflect the global representation and competitive balance within the tournament.
