For the third time in program history and third consecutive year, five Americans reached the semifinals of the British Junior Open following the quarterfinals Sunday, January 4, in Birmingham.
Christian Capella made history by becoming the first American boy to reach back-to-back BJO BU19 semifinals. Capella fulfilled his 3/4 seeding with a five-game quarterfinal win over Czechia’s 5/8 seed Martin Stephan. Capella will face off with Egypt’s top seed Adam Hawal on the glass court at 4:20pm local time, 11:20am ET.
GU17 two seed Isabella Tang advanced to her first BJO semifinal with a close five-game quarterfinal win over Egypt’s 5/8 seed Nadia Tamer. Tang will bid to reach the final against Egypt’s 3/4 seed Mariam El Mattet at 2:20pm local time, 9:20am ET.
Two weeks after winning his first BU17 U.S. Junior Open title, Brendan Tagliarini reached his first BJO semifinal. Tagliarini, a 3/4 seed, defeated India’s 9/16 seed Shiven Agarwal in four games. Tagliarini will take on Egypt’s top seed Farouk Mohamed at 1:40pm local time, 8:40am ET.
Sze, the Gu15 two seed, progressed to the final with a decisive 3-0 win against Hong Kong’s 5/8 seed Ching Sum Tang. Sze will aim to fulfill her seeding against Egypt’s 3/4 seed Reem Elmaghabry at 11:40am local time, 6:40am ET.
BU11 top seed Azlan Khan has progressed through the draw with just one game dropped all tournament in the quarterfinals against Kuwait’s 5/8 seed Fahad Khan. The American will play Hong Kong’s 5/8 seed Ngo San Leung at 11am local time, 6am ET.
Watch the semifinals live Monday, January 5, and follow more tournament coverage on britishjunioropen.com.
