LIEBHERR European Championships
In the Women’s Event Maria XIAO easily prevailed against Nikoleta PUCHOVANOVA (3-1) to give Spain good start against Spain. She won in four games without great difficulties. However Galia DVORAK had much harder task against Barbora BALAZOVA. Spanish player is rankled only at the position no. 39 in Europe and she created the upset today by overcoming BALSZOVA who is listed at the position no. 14 in current Continental’s listing.
After this win ZHANG Xuan just easily close the duel with the win over Ema LOBOSOVA.
“It was expected that we win this one. We have young but very good players but we were ready for 3-2. We thought it will be much more difficult ” said DVORAK.
Her win was crucial for surprisingly quick match.
“I know BALAZOVA well. We were playing in the same team and we had so many matches between each other. She was favorite especially when we se the “numbers” but also the pressure here was on her. I took the best of it.”
Next challenge will be much harder. Spain will meet title holders – Romania.
“That will be real challenge. They are the best team in Europe one of the best in the World. Not that they have strong players in the game but also on the bench. What works for us is that we have nothing to lose. The pressure will be on them.”
The winner of the Women’s Singles Event at the European Games in Minsk earlier this summer NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg did not lose her steam. In the opening match against Greece she beat Aikaterini TOLIOU. Sarah DE NUTTE continued in same winning style against Elisavet TERPOU to secure comfortable space for Luxembourg.
Konstantina PARIDI managed to prolong the match with the victory over Tessy GONDERINGER but on her second exit to the table Sarah DE NUTTE halted the suprise with the win over Aikaterini TOLIOU.
“The match was interesting because the Greek’s players were very focused. The fourth match was difficult but it went all right for us. Now we are going to play France which is a very good team with very dangerous players ” said NI Xia Lian.
Portugal successfully started their journey with the victory over Turkey. Marcos FREITAS lost second game to Abdullah YIGENLER the next one came close but Turkish player failed to cause the serious threat to Europe’s no ten. He won in four games – by the same margin in which Tiago APOLONIA managed to overcame Ibrahim GUNDUZ. Joao MONTEIRO beat Ziver GUNDUZ in straight games.
“It was not that easy as the result predicts – it was much closer game ” said APOLONIA. “Now we will have some rest because tomorrow will be even harder. We have to meet Greece the leader in our group. This is almost like knock-out system. There are three teams in the group but only the winner goes through.”
The morning session on the opening day of the Group Phase at the LEBHERR European Championship brought upsets already. Spain was in charge for most of it. In the first round they overcame Slovakia in Men’s Singles Event after full five matches. Portugal joined them with the victory over 3-0. In Women’s Team’s Event once again Spain overcame Slovakia in match in which the victory was expected but 3-0 margin for sure not something we can predict. Luxembourg overcame Greece 3-1.
The most exciting match was the one between the men’s team of Spain and Slovakia. Lubomir PISTEJ was stretched to full five games in the opening match against Alvaro ROBLES it was a close game in which PISTEJ proved he have a better nerve and better rankings in tight finishes. PISTEJ Europe’s no. 29 won last game at 10-12. For WAN Yang it was much easier case. He overcame Jesus CANTERO in four games. CANTERO won third game and came close to overcame YAN in fourth but Slovakia’s player prevented him for prolong the match.
The pendulum swung when Carlos MACHADO beat Alexander VALUCH. He brought back Spain to life. ROBLES ranked at position no. 37 stayed on winning course by beating Europe’s no. 13 WANG Yang and CANTERO ranked at 71st sealed the match with the victory over PISTEJ.
“I started with some difficulty in the opening match but later I managed to find my game again. My teammates did a nice job. Especially CANTERO in the decisive match which were perfect. He outplayed PISTEJ beautifully ” said ROBLES. “Now we have to get ready for France. We will try to take advantage of the fact that they will be under severe pressure. They are host; we already have one victory which means if they lose the competition is over for them. That is why we will put them on the pressure from the very beginning to make them nervous.”
