Germany’s Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. and Czech Republic’s HB Ostrov z.s. have advanced to the semi-finals of the Europe Cup Men, joining SF SKK El Nino Praha (Czech Republic) and ASC Grünwettersbach (Germany).
Spain’s Real Club Cajasur Priego Tenis de Mesa narrowly defeated Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. at home, but failed to replicate that result in Germany. Steffen MENGEL easily overcame Diogo CARVALHO, while Ovidiu IONESCU delivered a straight-games win against Hampus SÖDERLUND. Only Alvaro ROBLES managed to put Irvin BERTRAND under pressure before the French player sealed the match.
“We are very happy to win 3-0 and qualify for the semis. We knew it would be hard. They won the first leg 3-2, but at the same time we knew that at home we are the stronger team, and together with our supporters we could win and qualify,” said Ovidiu IONESCU.
Meanwhile, with a significantly changed line-up compared to the opening leg, HB Ostrov z.s. recorded another straight-matches victory. Only Pavel SIRUCEK appeared in both legs and won on both occasions, defeating Dawid CHILICKI and Patryk CHOJNOWSKI. For the home match, Vladislav URSU and Andrej GACINA secured wins in the opening two matches against Piotr MICHALSKI and Patryk CHOJNOWSKI.
Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. – REAL CLUB CAJASUR PRIEGO TENIS DE MESA 3-0
- Steffen MENGEL – Diogo CARVALHO 3-1 (11-6, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7)
- Irvin BERTRAND – Alvaro ROBLES 3-2 (7-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5, 6-3)
- Ovidiu IONESCU – Hampus SÖDERLUND 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-5)
Opening leg
REAL CLUB CAJASUR PRIEGO TENIS DE MESA – Postsportverein Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. 3-2
- Alvaro ROBLES – Daniel HABESOHN 3-0 (14-12, 12-10, 11-7)
- Hampus SÖDERLUND – Irvin BERTRAND 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 11-4, 5-11, 11-3)
- Carlos MACHADO – Steffen MENGEL 0-3 (8-11, 4-11, 11-13)
- Alvaro ROBLES – Irvin BERTRAND 2-3 (11-8, 8-11, 10-12, 11-7, 3-6)
HB Ostrov z.s. – UKS Dojlidy Białystok 3-0
- Vladislav URSU – Piotr MICHALSKI 3-1 (9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8)
- Andrej GACINA – Patryk CHOJNOWSKI 3-1 (11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7)
- Pavel SIRUCEK – Dawid CHILICKI 3-1 (11-6, 11-3, 10-12, 11-2)
Opening leg
UKS Dojlidy Białystok – HB Ostrov z.s. 0-3
- Machi ASUKA – Jiri VRABLIK 0-3 (5-11, 8-11, 7-11)
- Patryk CHOJNOWSKI – Pavel SIRUCEK 2-3 (11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 3-6)
- Piotr MICHALSKI – Tomas TREGLER 1-3 (10-12, 1-11, 11-8, 4-11)