The 2021 GAZPROM European Team Championships commenced today in BT Arena in Cluj. Follow the action live on ettu.tv and live score here see the pictures here and on all social media platforms.
Opening Round Group stage
Czech Republic – Italy 3:0
Even in absence of Czech Republic’s best ranked player Pavel SIRUCEK the team managed to record straight matches win against Italy. SIRUCEK stayed at home due the shoulder injury but his teammates stood the pressure. Lubomir JANCARIK was stretched to full distance against Niagol STOYANOV (6:11 11:9 9:11 13:11 11:5).
“STOYANOV is a very smart player and has an unpleasant style of play. He fight hard can place balls alternates between short service and long service. That’s how he wins. It is important to find the right rhythm and take control somehow. I didn’t quite succeed but I saved three match balls and then I improved the game ” said JANCARIK.
Tomas POLANSKY needed one game less to beat Mihai BOBOCICA (10:12 11:7 11:9 11:5).
“Until 10: 5 in the first game I felt that I was better and I have no idea what happened at the end. I ruined two balls then he caught up and won the game. BOBOCICA also plays very technically and it is not easy to force his style . I’m glad that I eventually managed to turn the game around and win ” explained POLANSKI.
Jiri MARTENKO was forced to play another marathon against Leonardo MUTTI (11:6 4:11 11:4 6:11 11:7).
“I was glad that I started the first match in the men’s national team at the European Championships at 2: 0. That reassured me that if I lost the boys would have another chance to end the match. I really wanted to win because the first match is very important for the confidence for the whole team. This is completely different from youth tournaments. But I tried not to think about it I focused on my performance and I think it was very good. It wasn’t easy because I don’t like left-handers very much. I’m glad I succeeded. “
Croatia – Hungary 3:0
Andrej GACINA gave Croatia perfect start with the win over Adam SZUDI 11:6 11:6 11:4). Control was the name of the game. Tomislav PUCAR just left one game to Bence MAJOROS (5;11 11:3 11:9 11:4) and at the end Frane KOJIC sealed the encounter with more then convincing 3:0 against Nandor ECSEKI (11:9 11:6 l1:4).
“This match gave us good start for what is coming. Opening round win is good for confidence especially after all three of us played at the such high level ” stated KOJIC.
KOJIC pointed at good preparation and analyze with the coach as a crucial for persuasive performance.
“In addition it helped a lot that we had matches against each others in recent past. Against ECSEKI I played very recently in Austria so I was aware from where the danger is coming. I had to awoid his forehand. Also GACINA played against Adam SZUD in the Champions League and he already succeeded then so it was easier for him now. “
Italy and Czech Republic are in the same Group.
“Czech Republic is without SIRUCEK so that will make our task little bit easier but still it is very leveled group. It will depend a lot of small things. We are here to win the Group and to reach the medal rostrum so we have to beat them all ” concluded KOJIC.
Opening Round Women’s Event
Greece – Luxembourg 1:3
With two wins Sarah DE NUTTE led to opening round success. Match commenced with very fast victory of NI Xia Lian over Aikaterini TOLIOU (11:7 11:1 11:7) and then Sarah was under pressure against Konstantina PARIDI (12:10 11:3 11:6 14:12) before Elisavet TERPOU brought first point for Greece. Tessy GONDERINGER lost in four games (11:9 14:16 11:4 11:7). DE NUTTE beat TOLIOU on his second exit to the table (11:9 11:7 11:4).
“I’m very happy that we won this match with Greece. We were favorites but it’s the opening one so you never know. I had confidence in my team that we can make it and happy that I could win 2 matches.The first one was more difficult because I was struggling a little bit. In the first game I was leading 10-7 than I lost and than I won two games easy and then the last one I won the very close. PARIDI had some game balls and at 2-2 you never know. I was happy that I could finish. In the second one I was feeling more comfortable.”
Didn’t you feel some pressure in the duel against TOLIOU.
“I was thinking “doesn’t matter how that match will be if Xia Lian plays the next one she will win” so I had confidence in her and because of that I was a little bit more relaxed more okay. Also I already played against Aikaterin a few times and I was feeling comfortable explained Sarah”
What do you expect in the match against Russia in the next Round.
“It will be a tough match really difficult but I think we have a chance. We need to be in a good shape all of us so that we can beat them. In the team from Russia is my team-mate from the club so it will be really funny.”
France – Turkey 3:0
Led by young Prithika PAVADE recorded opening round win against Turkey. 17 years old PAVADE overcame Sibel ALTINKAYA in the opening match (6:11 8:11 11:9 6:11). Simay KULAKCEKEN suffered by the hands of YUAN Jia Nan (2:11 9:11 11:8 14:16) and Pauline CHASSELIN was starched to full distance before she overcame Ece HARAC (6:11 11:7 9:11 11:3 4:11).
PAVADE won two gold medals in Cluj in cadet doubles and team’s in 2018.
“I was here three years ago at the European Youth Championships and it is great place to play – everything looks so good. I feel good because I am familiar with place ”said PAVADE. “My team had a good start. All the matches were close. Turkey has a very good team. I can’t say that one match was more difficult than the other. For me all the matches are difficult and I take very seriously every single match.”
How do you see the chances for France team at this Championships?
“We are a very young team. I am thinking of CHASSELIN and me. For us it is the first time when we playing at the European Table Tennis Championships as seniors . I thing that France women team has a great potential to get good results. The most important thing is our attitude our desire to win.”
Netherlands – Russia 0:3
Russia recorded win against Netherlands and they proved their line up is getting stronger and stronger. Vladimir SIDORENKO opened the match with the victory over Kas VAN OOST (9:11 11:3 11:9 11:9).
“I was little bit under pressure because it is the start of the tournament. I still have to adjust to the conditions in the playing hall. That is why I lost the opening game. Very quickly I managed to return into the match ” explained SIDORENKO.
Top ranked Russia’s player Kirill SKACHKOV continued the winning row with the expected win against Gabrielius CAMARA (11:9 12:10 11:5).
“We used this match to test us to find the rhythm and the right feeling. I tried with some variations with service and receive. We were favorites here and France is always on our mind. That will be crucial match for us in this Group ” said SKACHKOV.
In the last match young Maksim GREBNEV got his chance and he seized the opportunity to show his talent.
“This year after very long time we have 5 players who are all able to create the success. Today Alexander SHIBAEV was not playing but GREBNEV proved he has quality for the top events. Our performance is very leveled and it allows us to create a lot of tactical variations with the composition of the team. Lev KATSMAN is also on duty here and we are positive about the outcome of the coming matches ” said SKACHKOV.
Denmark – Turkey 3:0
Denmark was in the fast lane against Turkey. Jonathan GROTH overcame Abdullah YIGENLER (11:3 7:11 11:7 11:9). It was Tobias RASMUSSEN who was under severe pressure in the duel against Ibrahim GUNDUZ. He needed to go full distance (11:5 14:12 10:12 11:13 11:9). Anders LIND closed the match in superb style (11:7 11:6 11:6).
Tobias RASSMUSEN said it was very strange match.
“I was leading 2 – 0 and 10-7 and I was feeling very well I was controlling the match and then I got a little bit stressed and I made some mistakes in the third game and he came back but I am so happy that I recovered in the fifth game to win it. At the beginning I was able to open the game with topspin and I won most of the points I was more aggressive. In the end of the match I became passive but still I managed to win at the end “explained RASMUSSEN.
Sweden – England 3:0
The duel between Sweden and England was a far from what the results predicts. Each match went full distance with a lot of close games inside. Christina KALLBERG beat Maria TSAPTSINOS (11:8 9:11 11:7 7:11 11:9). Linda BERGSTROM continued with the same style by overcoming Tin Tin HO (6:11 11:4 4:11 12:10 11:9). Jennifer JONSSON followed the trend against Denise PAYET.
Linda had a good start against HO but then she lost second game and the match progressed in the same rhythm.
“Well the second set was good but I didn’t feel so good. We have lived together for 2 years in Linz Austria both room-mates and practice partners so we know each other very well. I just had a problem with finding the feeling of the ball and the hall in the beginning so I was a little bit slow but I worked myself through like the whole match I was working with my legs and my touch until in the end I started to feel a lot better with everything all the conditions ” said Linda.
Portugal – Croatia 3:1
FU Yu was under severe test in both her encounters but she stood the pressure and overcame Hana ARAPOVIC and Mateja JEGER. In the opening match FU won 3:1 (11:7 9:11 11:7 12:10) whilst against JEGER she was stretched to full distance (6:11 6:11 11:4 11:2 11:6).
“JEGER was more relaxed she played like she has nothing to lose. In addition her pimples on backhand are very dangerous for me. I was down two games but I did not lose my focus and I stayed calm which was the most important thing ” said FU.
SHAO Jieni overcame JEGER again in full distance thriller (7:11 11:7 11:13 11:2 11:5) whilst Rita FINS lost to Ivana MALOBABIC (8:11 7:11 8:11).
“I had a chance in the opening game with 8:4 but Ivana recovered to win that game. She settle into her rhythm and I could not stop her ” said Rita.
Serbia – Slovakia 1:3
WANG Yang was the back bone of Slovakia’s success against Serbia but Lubomir PISTEJ stood the pressure as well. PISTEJ opened the match with the win over Zsolt PETO (11:8 17:19 9:11 14:12 11:13) before WANG showed no mercy against Dimitrije LEVAJAC (9:11 4:11 6:11). Marko JEVTOVIC scored against Jakub ZELINKA (11:7 10:12 11:7 11:7) but once again WANG beat PETO (9:11 2:11 6:11).
“We expected hard match. After all Serbia has qualified for the Olympics with the same team. PETE also plays very good against defense style. However WANG was at the top of the game and he recorded two comfortable wins. Now we have one day to rest to prepare for the duel against England. As I remember once we managed to beat them. If WANG repeat his game our chances are almost 50/50 ” said PISTEJ.
Spain – Poland 1:3
Poland concluded their match against Spain in four games. Alvaro ROBLES beat Marek BADOWSKI (11:6 11:9 11:9) Spain failed to stay at the same course. Jesus CANTERO lost to Jakub DYJAS (5:11 8:11 14:12 7:11) Samuel KULCZYCKI prevailed against Carlos CABALLERO (6:11 11:4 11:6 11:8) and ROBLES lost to DYJAS in thrilling five games (9:11 11:8 11:13 12:10 7:11).
Jakub DYJAS said: “This match was a very tough one though we expected this before. We were well prepared for a difficult one. ALVARO and I we know each other very well and there were 50 / 50 chances to win but in the end with a bit of luck and better decisions from my side it was me. The matches against Spain are always very difficult. We knew that we must do our best and in the end we won.”
You won last match 3:2. What do you thing about your shape?
“I have played many matches in the Polish League in the Champions League… I felt a little bit tired after so many matches and after traveling quite a lot. But I recovered fast. I feel that my shape is ok for this tournament. We will see what will happen in the near future ” added DYJAS.
Ukraine – Belarus 3:2
The longest match of the round – three hours in all was the one between Ukraine and Belarus. Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA lost to Pavel PLATONOV at the beginning (7:11 9:11 11:8 6:11) but Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO leveled the match with the straight games win over Aleksandr KHANIN (11:7 11:4 11:9). Gleb SHAMRUK once again put Ukraine in the lead against Anton LIMONOV (11:7 10:12 11:2 5:11 9:11) but not for long. PRYSHCHEPA overcame KHANIN (8:11 11:7 6:11 11:4 11:3) and ZHMUDENKO overcame PLATONOV (11:4 5:11 11:9 13:15 11:8).
PRYSHCHEPA praised the adversaries: “We are happy to win. Belarus is always a strong team even they didn’t play today with their leader. We had a difficult start but after we prove that we have a good heart for fight and win.”
Italy – Belgium 3:0
Italy managed to finish their opening duel in straight matches. Giorgia PICCOLIN was under pressure against Margo DEGRAEF. She was two games to null in reverse but managed to recover (3:11 9:11 11:8 11:8 11:4). Debora VIVARELLI needed one game less to beat Nathalie MARCHETTI (9:11 11:9 11:8 11:6) whilst Jamila LAURENTI showed no mercy against Julie VAN HAUWAERT (11:8 11:7 11:8).
“At 0:2 I thought I will not made it. I could not find my game. I had to change something I got focused on one point at the time and most important I stayed calm ” explained PICCOLIN.
Italy has a very tough task in the next round. They will meet Romania.
“ It will not be an easy match. They are playing at home but we have nothing to lose. I know that we can play really good. We are a good team. We will see. For sure we will give our best!”
Slovenia – Czech Republic 1:3
Slovenia proved as a worthy adversary but Czech Republic justified their status after very close match. Katerina TOMANOVSKA lost to Katarina STRAZAR in four games (11:8 11:6 8:11 11:6) but the match changed the course quickly. Hana MATELOVA won her both encounters. She beat Lara OPEKA (9:11 7:11 10:12) before she overcame STRAZAR (4:11 9:11 1:8 9:11). Ana TOFANT managed to score the only point for Slovenia against Zdena BLASKOVA (12:10 4:11 0:11 10:12).
“We were a little surprised by the line-up ” stated MATELOVA.” Their second player played at the position of third. However t for me it was an advantage because OPEKA was ideal adversary for me. I won easily and then I gave a good performance against STRAZAR. I led 2 0 and 7: 5 I was probably a little scared that it was going so smoothly. I lost a game but that doesn’t change the fact that I played with confidence to win. “
TOMANOVSKÁ added: “I don’t think I was nervous but I couldn’t get into the game at all. I ruined the receive and the first balloons. I had a lot of mistakes moreover STRAZAR didn’t suit me at all. Unfortunately I did not find a way to change this during the match. But it’s a team competition so one unsuccessful match doesn’t hurt a lot if the other girls are good.”
BLASKOVA never played against TOFANT before and this is her first European Championships in Women category.
“I was nervous especially before the match when I learned that I would play against TOFANT. In addition I started at 1:1. Fortunately my nervousness disappeared at the table. I started well I just had to get used to the feeling in the big hall. I am very happy now.”
Romania – Luxembourg 3:1
Luka MLADENOVIC created top upset by beating Ovidiu IONESCU at the beginning of the match (13:11 11:3 4:11 7:11 8:11). When it seamed that the initial shock is behind Romania and Rares SIPOS took early lead against Eric GLOD Luxembourg’s player stroke back and forced Rares to go full distance (11:5 7:11 16:14 8:11 11:9). Hunor SZOCS gave Romania advantage in the match against Traian CIOCIU (11:8 11:8 11:5) and IONESCU performed at the top level to secure the victory over GLOD (11:5 11:8 11:9).
“It is such a nice feeling I’ve got goosebumps even now I feel so excited. I would like to give my thanks to all my friends and my family who came to support us. There were so many spectators and we are looking forward to see more of them in the coming days ” SIPOS expressed his gratitude.
It went harder then the home crowd expected.
“We expected a difficult match. We knew it is gonna be tough. GLOD is an excellent player but also his teammates are very good . There is not such a thing like easy opponent here.I kept my cool. I always kept telling myself to focus on the next point the next point being always the most important point. So I did it in the end.”
Finland – Slovenia 1:3
Benedek OLAH managed to win one point but Slovenia recored victory at the end. Peter HRIBAR lost opening match against OLAH (12:10 11:9 8:11 11:8) but then Darko JORGIC took over the control and leveled with the win over Alex NAUMI (12:10 11:5 11:8). Samuli SOINE suffered by the hands of Tilen CVETKO (6:11 7:11 11:4) and the last duel against OLAH went to JORGIC’s account (4:11 11:6 7:11 7:11).
“We are here without KOZUL who had to withdraw due the injury and TOKIC who just took over Belgium’s team as a coach. We were expecting hard match. For me it was very good that Tilen managed to beat SOINE and to give us some space ” said JORGIC.” OLAH proved his worth it was very difficult to play against him. He is strong in his head and his shots are powerful.”
Greece – Belgium 2:3
Under the new leadership of Bojan TOKIC team Belgium overcame Greece. Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS won both his matches but that was insufficient. Ioannis beat Robin DEVOS in the opening match (11:8 4:11 8:11 13:11 12:10) and then Cedric NUYTINCK nullified Greek advantage by overcoming Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS (8:11 9:11 12:14).
Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS lost to Martin ALLEGRO (6:11 11:9 5:11 9:11) and
SGOUROPOULOS overcame NUYTINCK (11:8 11:9 11:7). In the ultimate duel DEVOS overcame KONSTANTINOPOULOS (4:11 8:11 14:12 11:9 7:11).
“In the beginning I was leading 2:0 then I don’t know somehow Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS found the right rhthm in the game that made me feeling uncomfortable and then I started to be nervous more and more… When I lost two games I said to myself ok Robin just relax and play your game if you loose you loose if you win you win. Just try to do your best. It makes no sense to be so nervous and not playing your best table tennis by being so nervous ” said DEVOS.
Spain – Slovakia 1:3
Barbora BALAZOVA played pivotal role in tonight’s victory over Spain. Slovakia had a shaky start with Maria XIAO’s victory over Tatiana KUKULKOVA (13:11 11:8 11:4) but then Barbora BALAZOVA proved to strong for Galia DVORAK (11:5 11:7 11:2) and more important Ema LABOSOVA prevailed against Sofia-Xuan ZHANG in straight games (7:11 11:13 8:11). At the end Maria XIAO suffered by the hands of Barbora BALAZOVA (10:12 11:4 6:11 5:11).
“Definitely the most important moment that gave us the edge was the duel between Ema beat ZHANG that pushed us to the victory much easier than we thought ” said BALAZOVA.”Maria was really good at the beginning of the match but I managed to level against Galia. We were club mates for a while and we know each other very well. Then Ema made perfect victory which gave me advantage for the following match and put XIAO under extra pressure.”
In next round Slovakia will meet top seeded Germany.
“They are without top three players but still they are coming with the winner of the POMEGRANATE Top 16 Cup. I played with Nina MITTELHAM and I know that we are not favorites. That gave us some space to play under less pressure. I here with three young players we are trying to enjoy the game as much as possible and maybe along the way we could create some miracle ” stated BALAZOVA.
Serbia – Belarus 0:3
Belarus prevailed in straight matches but Serbia did not go without the fight. Izabela LUPULESKU lost to Darya KISEL in five games (11:5 8:11 11:5 8:11 8:11) and same scenario we saw in all three duels. Sabina SURJAN lost to Daria TRIGOLOS (5:11 11:8 9:11 11:7 11:8) and Aneta MAKSUTI suffered by the hands of Katsiaryna BARAVOK (14:12 8:11 8:11 12:10 7:11).
“KISEL she is a hero today. She started this winning row and opened the door wide open for the victory. when I went to the table it was 1-0 for us and of course it was an advantage for me. I tried to continue same way ” said TRIGOLOS
