2020 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
Five-time Europe Top 16 Cup winner and the reigning champion Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany is just one title shy of his compatriot Timo BOLL who occupies no.2 in the all-time list behind Jan-Ove WALDNER of Sweden. Actual no.3 seed is aiming new gold medal at the 2020 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Swiss town Montreux (February 8-9) after last year’s campaign when he beat two European greats in last two hurdles Timo BOLL and Vladimir SAMSONOV.
Last year you went to 2019 Europe Top 16 Cup after difficult year 2018 due to long-term injury. What about your actual shape?
“I was very happy when I won here last year because this victory gave me back a lot of self-confidence after 2018. At the moment I am doing fine so I definitely try to defend my title from last year.”
How do you see your chances to get new Euro Top 16 crown and who are the strongest contenders?
“The field is very strong and you have to be 100% fit to be able to win this title. There are a lot of players who can defeat every other player so it is really hard to say who is the strongest opponent. There are quite a few as always. Of course Timo (BOLL) is always a contender (smile).”
You managed to collect five titles in last six editions of Euro Top 16. Have you been changing anything in your approach in terms of preparation and style of play for this tournament in all these years?
“I did not change anything as far as I remember (smile). The Europe Top 16 is one of the most important tournaments of the year as you can qualify for the World Cup so the Europe Top 16 will always have an important status for me. It’s one of my favorite events since I won it already 5 times (smile).”
Your best and worst memory in 2019?
“The best moments in 2019 to name a few have been the team titles at the European Games and the European Championships Top 16 title Champions League title. Each moment stands for its own so it’s hard to name the “one” best moment I can say that all these titles gave me much self-confidence for 2020.”
Who was the best world’s athlete in 2019 in your opinion?
“The best athlete for me in 2019 is MA Long. He did not play that much but he is 100% in shape when it counts. He became World Champion again in 2019 so he is the best.”
What is your plan towards 2020 Olympics and what is your aim?
“Of course the Olympics are the main goal this year. We have a very strong team with Timo (BOLL) and Patrick (FRANZISKA) and we definitely want to win a medal. This is also my aim in singles.”
When you play alongside so many good teammates in the club you must be ready to fight against them in biggest international events. How do you feel when you face Vladimir SAMSONOV or other your table tennis friends (like it happened last year in Montreux)? Is there any special tactic?
“In the end these matches are like every other match. Of course I know my team mates better than other players and often they become good friends but before and during the match it`s quite the same. I always check their last matches and results and during the match the friendship has to rest for about an hour and after the match everything is like before. As we are professional players this is just natural and at the table there is no difference if you are good friends or not.”
2020 CCB EUROPE TOP 16 CUP – LIST OF CONFIRMED PLAYERS
Men’s Singles: Mattias FALCK (no.1 seed Sweden) Timo BOLL (no.2 Germany) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (no.3 Germany) Simon GAUZY (no.4 France) Vladimir SAMSONOV (no.5 Belarus) Liam PITCHFORD (no.6 England) Kristian KARLSSON (no.7 Sweden) Marcos FREITAS (no. 8 Portugal) Jonathan GROTH (no. 9. Denmark) Daniel HABESOHN (no. 10 Austria) Tomislav PUCAR (no.11 Croatia) Robert GARDOS (no.12 Austria) Emmanuel LEBESSON (no.13 France) WANG Yang (no.14 Slovakia) Darko JORGIC (no.15 Slovenia) Lionel WEBER (no.16 Switzerland).
Women’s Singles: Sofia POLCANOVA (no.1 Austria) Bernadette SZOCS (no.2 Romania) Petrissa SOLJA (no.3 Germany) HAN Ying (no.4 Germany) Elizabeta SAMARA (no.5 Romania) Matilda EKHOLM (no.6 Sweden) Margaryta PESOTSKA (no.7 Ukraine) NI Xia Lian (no.8 Luxembourg) Britt EERLAND (no.9 Netherlands) Polina MIKHAILOVA (no.10 Russia) Hana MATELOVA (no.11 Czech Republic) Barbora BALAZOVA (no.12 Slovakia) Natalia PARTYKA (no.13 Poland) Dora MADARASZ (no.14 Hungary) Yana NOSKOVA (no.15 Russia) Rachel MORET (no.16 Switzerland).
