Although a 4-hour rain delay threatened to wreak havoc on Thursday's World Junior Tennis Competition Asia/Oceania Qualifying in Kuching, once play commenced, however, 5th-seeded China wasted no time in powering to a 2-0 victory over 7th seeds Hong Kong to join (1)Japan, (2)Korea, and (3)Australia in the World Finals in Prostejov later this summer.

Rather unexcitedly, all four quarterfinals on Thursday resulted in identical 2-0 wins by the higher-seeded team, and none of the eight singles match-ups were really that close either. Aussie No. 1 Cassandra Dunser had the dubious distinction of having dropped the most games in the quarterfinals, conceding seven to Kazak No. 1 Kamila Kerimbayeva, before finalizing a 6-4, 6-3 win to reserve her team's place for August's finale.

The longest match was surprisingly recorded by the highest ranked player in Kuching this week – Korea's Jang Su-Jeong (ITF 261) – who needed an hour and thirty-two minutes to see off the challenge of Thai No. 1 Gornganok Tiraganok. Her 6-3, 6-3 win was a couple of minutes longer than Dunser's effort against Kerimbayeva.

The most lopsided result score-wise, unfortunately, occurred in China's 2-0 win against Hong Kong. Playing in place of designated No. 2 Huang Jia-Lu, Chinese number three Sun Zi-Yue managed to defeat Eudice Chong, 6-1, 6-2, to hand over the early lead.

In the face-off between the pair of No. 1s, Li Yi-Hong, who was recently promoted to Sichuan's first team alongside the likes of Zheng Jie and Yan Zi, then beat Katherine Ip in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1, in 50 minutes to seal the deal for China.

The scheduled doubles between Li Yi-Hong and Huang Jia-Lu against Katherine Ip and Venus Pang did not materialize.

Due to the lateness of hour as a result of the protracted rain delay, it was agreed beforehand that none of the doubles match-ups would be put on unless necessary. That arrangement was needed just once yesterday in the playoff match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka where the Kiwis dropped the opening singles before winning the tie in the end, 2-1.

The last time a team from China failed to reach the World Finals was in 2004 when neither a Chinese Boys or Girls team took part in the Regional Qualifying in Melbourne. That same year, incidentally, the HK Girls' trio of Geraldine Leong, Sher Chun Wing, and Tsang Pui Yee managed to place 8th overall.

Otherwise, since the turn of the 21st century, the Girls' 14U teams from China had progressed to the World Finals each year without fail.

Six years ago, the territory's World Junior Tennis girls' team, then spearheaded by the Houdini acts of anchorwoman Venise Chan at number one singles, was rather providential to come home in 10th place at the 2003 Asia/Oceania Qualifying in Melbourne following a three-way playoff for 9th-11th positions.

On Friday, Hong Kong will go up against 6th-seeded Thailand with the resulting winner progressing to a 5th-6th Place Playoff with either 4th-seeded Indonesia or Kazakhstan.

The losing teams from the above match-ups will then playoff for 7th-8th Place on Saturday.

For complete results and the draws, please visit here.