In the opening leg of the Round of 16 of the Europe Cup Women in Poland MUSEO DE LA ALMENDRA FRANCISCO MORALES beat Czestochowa Bebetto AZS UJD while in Portugal Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela overcame MIRÓ Ganxets Reus.
In Poland the match went the full distance. Tetyana BILENKO proved too strong for Marija GALONJA and JIAQI Meng but Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO and Alicja LEBEK could not follow.
The hosts had a difficult start but eventually Tetyana beat GALONJA: “It was a difficult and complicated match. I am disappointed with my match against BILENKO. It was a very good match and it went the full five games. However I am very glad that I beat Dymitrenko 3:1 when it was 2:2. There’s always a lot of pressure in the last match and I think I managed to stay focused throughout the entire duel fighting until the end.”
JIAQI Meng and Patricia SANTOS also won their duels against DYMYTRENKO and LEBEK. “I’m happy for the whole team that we were able to win this match but the next task is to win the home match on Wednesday and I think it will be equally challenging.”
In Barcelona Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela overcame MIRÓ Ganxets Reus. Annamaria ERDELYI won both her matches while ZHOU Jingyi was in charge of the third point.
“I played against the player with a defensive style and I always like playing with such players. I felt confident and I only had some difficulties in the closing game against Paulina VEGA in the second match ” said ERDELYI.
Young Elvira RAD beat Ines MATOS by the death point to give the hosts the only point.
The return leg is scheduled for Wednesday.
Czestochowa Bebetto AZS UJD – MUSEO DE LA ALMENDRA FRANCISCO MORALES 2-3
Tetyana BILENKO – Marija GALONJA 3-2 (8-11 11-7 16-14 9-11 6-2)
Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO – JIAQI Meng 1-3 (7-11 11-9 9-11 0-11)
Alicja LEBEK – Patricia SANTOS 1-3 (6-11 11-4 10-12 7-11)
Tetyana BILENKO – JIAQI Meng 3-0 (11-6 11-4 11-1)
Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO – Marija GALONJA 1-3 (7-11 10-12 11-6 7-11)
Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela – MIRÓ Ganxets Reus 3-1
Annamaria ERDELYI – Natalya PROSVIRNINA 3-0 (13-11 11-5 11-6)
ZHOU Jingyi – Leili MOSTAFAVI 3-1 (9-11 11-9 11-9 11-5)
Ines MATOS – Elvira Fiona RAD 2-3 (11-3 9-11 11-1 9-11 5-6)
Annamaria ERDELYI – Paulina VEGA 3-0 (11-3 11-5 12-10)