2020 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
The 2018 Europe Top 16 Cup semi-finalist Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden is going to be satisfied if she repeats same result at 2020 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup to be held in Swiss town Montreux this Saturday and Sunday February 8-9. Berlin’s player is very optimistic regarding her aim to get spot for World Cup.
Last year you couldn’t repeat your 2018 achievement at Europe Top 16. How do you comment your results in 2019 Europe Top 16?
“Not much to say I lost to a strong opponent Nina MITTELHAM who I think has chances to be no.1 in Europe in the future.”
What do you remember most from your previous Europe Top 16 appearances?
“Fourth place from 2018 and to play in the beautiful city of Montreux.”
What is your goal now and are you satisfied with your current shape?
“My goal is semi-final and to qualify for World Cup. My shape is fine and looking forward to come back to Montreux.”
Have you change anything in your game since 2019 Montreux?
“Trying sometimes to play with speed not just spin. Let see how it goes (smile).”
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 them?
“I try to separate club events with national team events and usually it’s not a problem. However of course it’s a different match when the opponent knows your game well and vice versa.”
How do you see the list of 2020 favorites?
“Very open no clear favorite but lately the last years Top 3 has been the best ones in Europe.”
Your best and worst memory in 2019?
“In 2019 I met my girlfriend which was nice not many terrible things happened. Trying to be thankful generally.”
Who was the best world’s athlete in 2019 in your opinion?
“SUN Yingsha”.
What is your plan towards 2020 Olympics and what is your aim?
“To qualify and to reach quarter final in any event.”
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).