Australia’s Lily Phan has showed fight in the opening day of play but has failed to record a victory in her three opening matches.

Phan needed to take two of her three matches to move through to the final 16, but was beaten by her Egyptian, Slovenian and Croatian opponents.

Phan put together some classy play but was unable to hang with her higher ranked opponent, Egyptian Dina Meshref, in her first match as she went down in straight sets, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6.

While both girls started off tentatively, getting a feel for each other in the first set, the second set featured some great rallies. Unfortunately for Phan, the set ended similar to the first as the Aussie now faced the prospect of coming back from two sets down.

Phan started the third set more confidently as she opened up a 3-1 lead early, but Meshref fought back and at one point put together six straight points to eventually take the set and the match quite convincingly.

With some time on the court now in hand, Phan went into her second contest hoping to turn the tables, as she matched up against Slovenia’s Alex Galic.

Phan came out strong and was unlucky not to convert a series of break point opportunities in the opening set, with Galic eventually taking the marathon set 20-18.

Opening up an 8-4 lead in the second set, Phan was looking good to even up the match, but Galic wore her down saving a match point at 10-11 to take it 13-11.

The third set was much like the others with Phan matching it with Galic throughout, but with the set poised at 9-9, the Slovenian again came up with the goods to take it 11-9.

In her final match of the day, Phan lined up against the undefeated Croatian Meteja  Jeger and although winning her first set of the tournament she eventually went down in four sets to her opponent that will likely go a long way to winning a medal in Singapore.

Losing the first set 4-11, Phan put on her best display as she took it to the Croatian in the second, taking the set 11-5.

Jeger immediately bounced back as her swift court movement and clean finishing helped her to take the third set.

Phan wasn’t done though, as she showed her fighting spirit to open a 3-0 lead early in the fourth set, before levelling the set late at 10-10.

The Croatian, and recent runner up at the Youth Euro tournament, eventually wrapped it up in the fourth, taking the match 11-4, 5-11, 11-5, 12-10.

“I think I went pretty good,” Phan said.

“The first match was a bit disappointing, while my second match was very close and my third better than I expected.” 

While not registering a win on the first day of play, Phan believes the experience she has gained from the tournament so far will help develop as a player.

“If I do ever make it to a senior Olympics I’m sure the Youth Olympics when make me feel that bit more experienced.”

Phan will now fight it out for positions 17-32 over the next couple of days in the lively atmosphere of Singapore’s Indoor Stadium that the young Aussie is enjoying playing in front of.

“The crowd is amazing, you can tell they really love the sport.”