LIEBHERR European Championships
European Champions from Luxembourg started the competition in the fast lane. Eliza SAMARA and Bernadette SZOCS overcame Ema LOBOSOVA and Eva JURKOVA whilst Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO received walk over. Slovakia’s team was reduced at half; Nikoleta PUCHOVANOVA and Barbora BALAZOVA could not play because they felt sick.
“Nevertheless both Bernie and I were focused. We can not miss any opportunity at such event. Everyone is after us. Tomorrow will face hard challenge against Spain. I hope it will be like three years ago when we beat them at the World Championships in Malaysia ” said Elizabeta SAMARA.
Germany faced Slovenia and secured safe victory. SHAN Xiaona overcame Ana TOFANT Nina MITTELHAM beat Katarina STRAZAR and WAN Yuan overcame Lea PAULIN.
“I never played against any of this players even in Singles. SOLJA has some experience with them but it was three years ago so it was little bit hard to tactics. However we were focused on our game and that was enough. Tomorrow against Italy we can expect different style of play but it is good that we felt the venue and now when the first match is behind us it is much easier ” said MITTELHAM.
Austria showed very good performance against Ukraine. Stefan FEGERL Daniel HABESOHN and Robert GARDOS overcame Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO and Viktor YEFIMOV.
“In closing stages we were better. We did not play under pressure and for sure we did a less mistakes ” said HABESOHN. “Against Denmark it will be more difficult. Our overall record shows that we are favorites but last time when we met they overcame. That was at the European Games in Minsk. There GROTH played fantastic table tennis and no one could not beat him in Team’s Event.”
Men’s Team of France at the LIEBHERR European Championships in Nantes gave enthusiastic crowd in Salle Sportive Metropolitane reason to cheer. On their opening match at the Championships they overcame Spain. Austria beat Ukraine whilst Germany and Romania succeeded in women’s Teams Event.
France needed four matches against Spain.
“I am satisfied. It’s a good start of the competition. It was not an easy match because it was already a decisive one. Spain had beaten Slovakia and they were one step closer then us. It was necessary to win tonight. Tristan was a little under his level. He did not handle the stress well. I thought he was going to recover when he saved set balls. It was not the case ” said coach Patrick CHILA.
Simon GAUZY won his both matches against Jesus CANTERO and Alvaro ROBLES.
“It’s a great start for the team. The audience was here from our first night. If we had lost maybe there will be fewer people in the next days. As soon as we faced difficulties the spectators felt it. And they encouraged us. Emmanuel did the good job at the begining. I did not see Tristan’s match. But it did not affect our performance. In the last match I still have the bad habit of losing several match points. After four match points wasted it had to finish” said Simon GAUZY.
Emmanuel LEBESSON overcame ROBLES: “We had a good “Simon” with two points. I managed to start the tournament well. There were not many rallies in my match. I made a serious and solid performance. I proved to the team that they can count on me for the rest of the competition. The presentation of the players gave us chills. There was a great atmosphere. The further we go far into the competition the heat will rise.”
Carlos MACHADO prevailed against Tristan FLORE: “It is a very good result. I lose my match but the team won. It is the most important. I am disappointed to have lost. I put the team in difficulty. I had the opportunity to win. It was a player that I could beat.”
