Without due alarm top seeded player in Women’s Singles Event at the European Under 21 Championships in Cluj Elena ZAHARIA of Romania booked her place in the Round of 16. The biggest upset was created by Ukraine’s Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO who received to wild card to come to Cluj but booked her place in the knock out stage.
ZAHARIA recorded all three wins in the Second stage of the event. Last in line to suffer against Elena was Bulgaria’s Tsvetelina GEORGIEVA (5 5 6 4). From the same group Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland progressed further after the win over Isa COK of France (5 6 6 -2 7).
No. 2 seed Prithika PAVADE of France booked her place in the Round of 16 after third victory in the Group B achieved against Matilde PINTO of Portugal (3 8 4 4).
“I did not play against Matilde PINTO before. Knowing that I am already at the top of the Group I played quite relaxed. It was a good match; I was very focused until the last point of the duel. For the next matches I will do my best to go as far as possible. I must admit that being so highly seeded makes me feel a little bit nervous. It seems that is easier to play when you are an outsider as I was for years ago at the European Youth Championships ” said Pavade PRITHIKA.
In the direct clash for the second position in that Group Katarzyna WEGRZYN of Poland overcame Ioana SINGEORZAN of Romania in seven games (-10 -6 5 -5 12 7 7).
In Group C Helga DARI of Hungary remained unbeaten after last round’s win over Eugenia SASTRE of Spain (8 7 7 13). Camile LUTZ of France is second. LUTZ beat top seeded Ece HARAC of Turkiye in the last round (4 -9 3 6 12).
“We know each other very well because we played many matches before. I won our previous match at Top 10 last October in Tours. I knew how to play against Ece but I was almost sure that she will change something in her game in order to surprise me. I was ready to fight for each point and I am so happy that I won this match although I finished on the second place in the Group. This is not the result I was hoping for. I lost to Hari DELGA who played a really good match. I could not find the right level for her game. Being the second in my group does not change my will to play at my best in next matches ” said Camille LUTZ.
Seeded only at the position no. 4 in Group D Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic moved to top spot with all three wins. Last in line to suffer was Nicole ARLIA of Italy (7 5 10 -9 -7 -3 8). ARLIA recovered from three to null in reverse to level to 3:3 but in decisive game BLASKOVA regained the control.
“This match was the most important match for me. If I would lose I would not reach the main draw. So I started the game knowing that I must win. I put a little bit of pressure on myself. I commenced very good I was leading 3-0 but then something happened I did some little mistakes and suddenly the score was 3-3. I was almost crying. I found a way to regain my focus a little bit more and I gave my best fighting until the last point so I am very happy that I won. From my beginning of playing table tennis I was always a fighter. During my match against Nicole when we played the seventh game and I was leading 5-2 – I new that I will make it. I do not have expectations for the next matches. It happened so many times before that IO had high hopes and eventually failed to reach the goal. I have to keep my feet on the ground and to go in little steps ” said Zdena BLASKOVA.
Mia GRISEL of Germany also reached the third stage of the Event. She beat Ines MATOS of Portugal in third round (7 10 5 11 7).
In Groups E and F Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia and Ema LOBOSOVA of Slovakia justified their leading positions in their respective Groups. Both reached top spot without being defeated. In Group E Anna BRZYSKA of Poland and Sophia KLEE of Germany moved to the net stage from position no. two.
In Group G Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO of Ukraine overcame Gaia MONFARDINI of Italy (9 8 -10 10 4) to secure top position. After first defeat in the Group Gaia still managed to move further from the spot no. two.
“I am so happy that I won this match. MONFARDINI is a very good player. I am now in the main draw and the next matches will be tougher But I want to do my best to go as far as possible ” said Anastasyia DYMYTRENKO
In Group H two top players booked their places for knock out stage. Franziska SCHREINER of Germany overcame Agathe AVEZOU of France (4 -11 -8 5 11 3) whilst Anna WEGRZYN of Poland beat Swede Matilda HANSSON (6 -9 3 4 9).
“General speaking is not easy to play against defenders. AVEZOU is a very young player so I did not have the chance to play against her. Playing against player you did not know is a little difficult. I am so happy that I won. After I won the opening game I was thinking that this match will not be a difficult one. The match was always close but after wining the fifth game I felt that I could make it. All the players on the main draw are very good but I hope to be able to do my best in order to win my next match ” said FRANZISKA.
