In the Round of 16 in Under 19 Girls Event at the GAZPROM European Youth Championships in Varazdin Darya KISEL of Belarus created the top rated upset and overcame the top seeded Elena ZAHARIA of Romania. No. 4 seed Elizabeta ABRAAMIAN of Russia was very close to share ZAHARIA’s faith but after seven thrilling games she prevailed against another Romania’s player Ioana SINGEORZAN. In the lower half of the draw no. two seed Isa COK also faced early depart. Anna BRZYSKA of Poland proved too strong for French player. Italy’s Jamila LAURENTI no. 4 seed is also out. Hana ARAPOVIC restored the host nation pride by winning very close duel for the place in the quarterfinal.
Elena ZAHARIA struggled from the beginning to find the answer to Daria KISEL’S defending style of play (3:11 4:11 9:11 12:10 11:7 9:11). ZAHARIA managed to narrow the 3:0 margin to 3:2 but never fully recovered.
โIn the fourth game I was 10:4 up and then I lost that game. I could not believe I lost it. I asked myself ‘What am I doing?’ However my tactics paid off eventually. My style is full of variations. I changed the pace of the game and my defense is quite unusual and very difficult for the girls on the other side of the net โ said Daria.
Ioana SINGEORZAN of Romania beat Elizabet ABRAAMIAN in the final of the Under 19 Girls Event but in the singles Russia’s player avenged her defeat. She managed to recover after being 1:3 in reverse (11:9 15:13 11:13 13:11 5:11 7:11 7:11).
โThis was unbeilable and amazing match. I was under pressure after I suffered against her just recently in the Team’s Event and I was very nervous. I played good gave my best running and moving all the time I even screamed to push myself further. I lost the game when i had 10:6 advantage but I did not gave up at 1:3. I was confused because I played really good I dominated but somehow I was losing. Then I forced myself to calm down. I was aware how her style in not easy for me and that is why I had to play point by point. I stopped thinking much further then the next ball โ said ABRAAMIAN.
No 7 seed Sophia KLEE of Germany suffered by the hands of the lower ranked Camille LUTZ of France (11:9 8:11 11:8 11:8 11:7). No 10 seed controlled the match and lost only one game.
โWe made a lot of rallies and she forced me to play hard for each ball. The crucial moment was at 2:1 when I had advantage 8:5 but KLEE recovered at 8:8. I called for time out and managed to win it. If I had lose I think the match could go in any direction. Now when I reached the quarters I feel I am close. I came here for medal and I hope to win it โ said LUTZ.
No. 15 seed Radmila TOMINJAK of Serbia needed six games to overcame Slovenia’s Lea PAULIN (14:12 5:11 11:8 10:12 11:1 8:11).
โThe most important to stay calm and focused. I had few ups and downs in the match. It was extremely difficult in the last game when I faced 8:8 โ said TOMINJAK.
Russia’s Natalia MALININA prevailed against Romania’s Luciana MITROFAN (11:5 11:9 8:11 11:7 11:7) whilst Charlotte LUTZ of France showed no mercy against Swede Rebecca MUSKANTOR (9:11 7:11 3;11 3:11)
Anna BRZYSKA of Poland beat the odds to overcame Isa COK of France (11:9 11:8 10:12 6:11 11:6 5:11 11:9).
โThis was very difficult match and 11:9 at the end in the decisive game speaks a lot about how the match was close โ said Anna.
Italy’s Jamila LAURENTI lost to Croatia’s Hana ARAPOVIC (11:7 4:11 11:8 7:11 8:11 6:11).
โHer โmaterialโ made a great difficulties for me but I managed to spread the game all over the table. I managed to confuse her to hide my strokes but it made the match mentally hard with all this tactics โ said ARPOVIC.โI do not think far forward at this tournament we already saw so many favorites departed earlier then their rankings predicted.โ
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