The 2024 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup kicked off today in Montreux. The top 16 players in Europe will compete for a total prize fund of 100 000 euros in the Salle Omnisport du Pierrier with an exclusive and breathtaking view of Lake Geneva.
On the first day of play we will see the Round of 16 matches followed by quarterfinals.
You can see the pictures here
Anton KALLBERG – Jaroslav ZHMUDENKO – 4-0 (12-10 11-8 11-4 11-7)
The opening round marked a triumph for the debutants. Anton KALLBERG of Sweden played in his first-ever Top 16 Cup in an impressive style. In straight games he overcame Ukraine’s Jaroslav ZHMUDENKO.
“I am very happy that I managed to record a straight games win in the opening match especially against ZHMUDENKO who is a very tricky player. The first game was crucial. It was close and I was coming from behind but I regained control. My service game allowed me to play more aggressively and to attack more often ” said KALLBERG.
Prithika PAVADE – Maria XIAO (11-9 11-7 11-3 11-8)
On table two French young star Prithika PAVADE overcame Spain’s Maria XIAO in her first appearance on the Top 16 stage.
“I am so excited to be here ” said PAVADE. “Our record was even. Once she beat me and last time I overcame Maria so I expected a close fight. The opening game that I won was crucial; then I set the rhythm of the match. In the last game it was close once again but I am happy I managed to win in straight games.”
Darko JORGIC – Joao GERALDO (11-2 7-11 6-11 11-9 14-12 11-3)
Portugal’s Joao GERALDO put significant pressure on the reigning champion Darko JORGIC. However the Slovenian elevated his game regained control and secured victory in the opening match. GERALDO led 2-1 when JORGIC shifted gears and despite saving six game balls at 10-3 the Portuguese player eventually lost the game.
Despite the loss he found his rhythm leading to an explosive fifth game.
“I lost to Joao at the World Teams Championships which is why I started this match nervously. Despite a strong start with 11-3 he raised his game and I had to give my maximum effort to beat him. The opening match is always challenging ” said JORGIC.
Speaking of the close duel in the fifth game JORGIC mentioned:
“It could easily have been 3-2 for him but at 13-12 he missed a ball and that was the moment when I regained control and returned to the match becoming more peaceful. I even played better on his game balls compared to mine.”
Sofia POLCANOVA – Tatiana KUKULKOVA 4-1(11-6 9-11 11-3 11-8 11-3)
Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA had an impressive start to the tournament except for the second game. Tatiana KUKULKOVA of Slovakia took a 5-0 lead which POLCANOVA couldn’t overcome. However the remaining three games went in one direction.
“She is the kind of player who always keeps you alert. You never know how she is going to play. She has a very strange style. In the beginning of the second game I made a lot of easy mistakes. She also had a few lucky balls and it was an easy 5-0 for her. I fought to come back but it was already too late. Overall it was not an easy match for me. I am trying to find myself again. I have not played in so many tournaments so I need some time to regain my self-confidence ” said POLCANOVA.
Nina MITTELHAM – Rachel MORET 4-0 (11-7 11-0 11-3 11-7)
Germany’s Nina MITTELHAM the 2021 winner delivered a solid performance causing heartache for the host nation supporters as Rachel MORET couldn’t halt the determined Nina.
“I am very satisfied with my performance. It is the first time in a long while that I have the impression that I could practice very well before the start of the Top 16 Cup. I am very focused and in good shape. I am looking forward to the next match ” said MITTELHAM.
Truls MOREGARD – Tomislav PUCAR 4-0 (11-6 13-11 12-10 11-3)
The 2022 Top 16 Cup finalist Sweden’s Truls MOREGARD secured the opening match win in an exciting encounter against Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR. Although the results predicted a quick victory PUCAR managed to put pressure on Sweden in the middle part of the match.
“It was a tough match because Tomislav is a very good player. We played only once before and he has been playing very well recently which is why I was very nervous today. However I started very well. Additionally I managed to win the second and third games even though I was down and it was important. I was consistent took most of the chances I got. Also very important I put many balls back on the table and it seemed that it stressed him a bit ” said MOREGARD.
Fu YU – Linda BERGSTROM 4-0 (11-9 11-8 11-2 11-5)
Runner-up from 2021 at the Top 16 Cup Portugal’s Fu Yu maintained her patience to overcome Linda BERGSTROM’s defensive skills and defeated the Swede in four games.
“It is difficult to play against a player with a defensive style of play. I am not getting any younger ” joked YU.
The first two games were very close but then the match took a swing.
“Basically I did not change a lot. I just needed some time to get into the flow. I know her game well; recently I beat her in Malmo at the European Championships. So I knew what to do just needed some time to get there. I was nervous at the beginning since this is the opening match and when I calmed down everything was easier ” said Fu YU.
Alvaro ROBLES – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 4-0 (11-9 11-8 11-9 11-9)
Olympic record medalist Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany has won the Top 16 Cup five times before and his quest for another title started in superb style. A close game gave the audience who fully packed the tribunes exciting moments to enjoy but still the German stays firmly on the winning path in his Round of 16 match.
“I am satisfied with the opening match which is never too easy. However for many months I have been in good shape and I am focused on my work and training. I won this one 4-0 but I am aware that against Truls in the quarters it will be a completely new level of play. It will be more difficult but I am looking forward to that match ” said OVTCHAROV.
Alexis LEBRUN – Anders LIND 4-1 (12-14 11-0 11-6 11-9 11-5)
Seeded at position no. 8 Alexis LEBRUN of France commenced his first-ever Top 16 Cup with a win over Dane Anders LIND. After a very close opening game the French player was at a disadvantage but he returned to the table with vengeance and won the next game without losing a point.
“It was difficult at the start because I received very poorly. His service game is very strong and he gave me a hard time in the close duel. I lost 14-12 and it was not a good game for me but I was looking for a solution. I started to receive differently much better and it worked ” said LEBRUN.
Winning 11-0 certainly goes in favor of that statement.
“Oddly enough the most important moment was that I felt very relaxed in the second game despite the fierce battle we had earlier. I came back strong. However he managed to adapt his game and respond better to my service game. It became more difficult but I maintained my focus. I tried to put as many balls as possible on the table. I won a lot of long rallies ” explained LEBRUN.
Xiaona SHAN – Natalia BAJOR 3-4 (11-8 11-9 4-11 8-11 11-4 3-11 8-11)
In the first match that went the full distance today we witnessed the first favorite stumble. The No. 7 seed Xiaona SHAN of Germany who came as a replacement for the injured reigning champion Ying HAN lost to Natalia BAJOR of Poland. BAJOR is seeded at position no. 13 in Montreux.
SHAN won the opening two games after a close contest but then Natalia started to control the match.
“Last time I lost against SHAN 3-0 in Dusseldorf and I think I never won a game against her. This is a big win for me and a big surprise. At the beginning I was under pressure and played with a lot of stress but after I managed to calm down ” said BAJOR.
What did you change after the second game?
“I completely changed my tactics and moreover I changed my attitude. My coach kept telling me ‘I believe in you.’ He persuaded me to fight and to believe I could win. I received better and technically that was the greatest difference compared to our last match ” explained BAJOR.
Bernadette SZOCS – Jieni SHAO 4-1 (11-5 9-11 12-10 11-8 11-8)
Seeded No. 1 Bernadette SZOCS of Romania booked her place in the quarterfinal in the encounter that was much closer than the results predict. Jieni SHAO of Portugal missed a few chances to create the biggest upset in the opening round of the tournament.
“Honestly this is the match I am not proud of at all. I showed maybe only 10 percent of the game I am capable of. Despite my performance I managed to stay calm and stay focused on each ball. Jieni won the second game and then she was in the lead in both the third and fourth games but I kept on fighting. I was aware that I was at a disadvantage not because SHAO is playing much better than me but because I am making too many mistakes ” said SZOCS.
Romania’s star continued:
“I hope in the next match I will play better because this is not what I practice in training. This is not my game and now I am sad. I did not perform at my level and I am disappointed. I could not move and I was very slow ” admitted SZOCS.
Felix LEBRUN – Liam PITCHFORD 4-0 (11-8 11-2 11-6 11-9)
Top-seeded Felix LEBRUN of France dominated throughout the match against Liam PITCHFORD of England. The 17-year-old radiated with confidence. He set a killing pace being quick on the table and keeping Liam’s game under control.
“Last time when we met I lost against Liam but that was almost a year ago. This win today makes me very happy. At the beginning I was a little bit stressed but as the game progressed I felt better. I managed to play my game. For me it is normal to be a little nervous at the beginning ” said Felix.
His premiere at the event nevertheless was impressive.
“In the last six months I played very well and that gave me a great sense of confidence. Also I was very well prepared for Liam; I watched his match in Doha prepared good tactics and it worked very well at the table.”
Xia Lian NI – Jia Nan YUAN 2-4 (11-6 4-11 11-9 8-11 8-11 1-11)
Jia Nan YUAN of France overcame experienced Luxembourg’s Xia Lian NI in six games.
“We never played before and I asked my husband to play with me to prepare for the match. I knew how difficult it would be and it proved right in the match. NI is very clever; she never gives up and takes advantage of even the smallest opportunity. I had to keep fighting for each ball ” said YUAN.
Jonathan GROTH – Dang QIU 0-4 (9-11 8-11 7-11 5-11)
European champion in singles Dang QIU of Germany who was the runner-up last year in his premiere at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup commenced his 2024 quest in superb style. In straight games QIU prevailed against Jonathan GROTH of Denmark.
“The straight games victory is the least important here. Of course I am happy but most important is that I won against a very good player at the Top 16. Everything is going too fast here. I have to prepare immediately for the next match and I hope I will be in the tournament tomorrow ” said QIU.
Marcos FREITAS – Loic STOLL 4-0 (11-8 11-3 11-1 11-3)
The No. 6 seed and winner from 2014 Marcos FREITAS of Portugal reached the quarterfinals after a duel against the host nation representative Loic STOLL. STOLL showed a brave performance in the opening game losing only by a narrow margin.
“He is a player with a defensive style of play that I am not used to practicing against. That is why the opening game was so close. At the beginning I was looking for my rhythm for the spin. He has short pimples on the backhand and it is something I am not used to. I made a few mistakes. After the opening game I started to play better. I began to understand how much spin his ball had. I improved my game my confidence got better and finally it became easier for me but just because I kept the focus and created a big lead ” said FREITAS.
In the quarters Marcos will play against QIU.
“I lost against him last time so I know it is going to be a very difficult match. He is one of the best players here. Now I am not thinking about who is on the other side because all the players here are very strong. Most important is that I grab one hour to rest and then return to prepare for the match ” said Marcos FREITAS.
Elizabeta SAMARA – Barbora BALAZOVA 4-2 (10-12 11-4 11-6 5-11 15-13 11-9)
In a very close game Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania overcame Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia.
“We have known each other for so long and this is the first time that we have played against each other. I did not know how to play against her. I did not know where the ball would be coming from her. I am angry at myself because so many times I had an advantage in this match and she managed to catch me with the exception of the opening game when she was in the lead and I was coming from behind. I was missing easy balls. I am frustrated because in training I was playing well and I did not manage to show the same in the match. I could not put the ball on the table as I usually do. I know what I could play; I know my level and this was below it ” said SAMARA.
At the end what prevailed?
“I was repeatedly better in the closing stages of the games. Thank God it did not come to the seventh game. I do not know how it would have ended if we entered the decider. It was nice to watch; I was leading she was overcoming the gap I’m sure spectators enjoyed it but in the next match I hope I will avoid such a nerve-wracking match ” said SAMARA.
