European Games | 23 Jun 2019

European champion LI Qian started with the victory

European Games 2019 Minsk

 

In the Third Round of the Women’s Singles event at the European Games 2019 Minsk, the top seeds entered the arena. One of the first upsets was the early departure of Margaryta PESOTSKA of Ukraine. No. ten seed suffered by the hands of Monaco’s YANG Xiaoxin (11-5, 2-11, 9-11, 9-11, 5-11).

 

“I am very happy for this win. I was worried before the match, because I lost close encounter in seven games last time we played against each other in Qatar. Once again, here we had a lot of rallies, it was a long and difficult game,” said YANG.

 

Georgina POTA of Hungary inflicted the pain in the harts of host nation supporters by beating Nadezhda BOGDANOVA of Belarus (11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5). Partly she avenged for the defeat that only few hours earlier Adam SZUDI and Szandra PERGEL faced in duel with Pavel PLATONOV and BOGDANOVA in Mixed Doubels.

 

“I have been warned. Almost everyone told me how good is BOGDANOVA. She is very young but already very dangerous. Well, she succeeded in Mixed Doubles and I aware what I can expect. I put a lot of variations in the game, had to change the rhythm and spins,” said POTA.

 

European champion LI Qian of Poland overcame Yana NOSKOVA of Russia (11-9, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9).

 

“I always need a time to build my confidence. I lost so many matches in the opening rounds and that makes this victory more important. Yana is very dangerous; her spin is not very fast but she is able to attack in lightning speed. I had to be on alert all the time,” explained LI.

 

 YU Fu of Portugal Rachel MORET of Switzerland (11-6, 11-5, 13-11, 9-11, 13-11).

 

Photo: Rémy Gros

 

 

Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia suffered by the hands of Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden (11-13, 9-11, 8-11, 11-13).

 

“Barbora is the kind of player who is very dangerous if you let her stay at one position and gets the balls on the racquet. I had to widener the game, top use whole table, to play to corners, middle, to make her move a lot… I study her match yesterday. She is very good with service and first ball, so I had to make my receive very good,” explained BERGSTROM.

 

Bernadette SZOCS of Romania overcame Laura GASNIER of France (11-6, 13-11, 11-7, 11-8).

 

“I was well prepared this time. I did not want to see the repetition of the second Round of the European Championships in Alicante when it was 3-2 and 11-8 in last game. We played so many matches as juniors and cadets and I know how dangerous is she. I changed my rhythm constantly because she is kind of player who adjust to any style very quickly,” explained SZOCS.

 

Britt EERLAND of Netherlands also exited the tournament earlier then her rankings predicted. Hanna GAPONOVA of Ukraine reached the fourth round (12-10, 3-11, 4-11, 7-11, 8-11).

 

“When I saw the draw I realized I have a good chance for two rounds. I knew I had to be focused and to play for each ball. Even the slightest lack of focus could cost me a loot. The results do not show how game was close,” explained GAPONOVA.

 

Four-time Olympian NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg prevailed against Amelie SOLJA of Austria (11-1, 11-13, 11-1, 11-6, 11-4).

 

“I thought my European Games in Baku will be the last one, but Luxembourg still needs me…I am here again and I am so happy for this win. It was not easy to play against SOLJA. She is the player with the special style and she played very good today. I had to pay attention and to study her game. My game was very good today, so I was very confident,” said NI.

 

 

Photo: Rémy Gros

 

 

Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania and Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus created the most thrilling match of the third round. In the nail biting finish PAVLOVICH saved three match balls and converted second into the victory over no. five seed (11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 6-11, 12-10, 11-13).

 

“SAMARA was the favorite in this match, and I told to myself that I had nothing to lose, I just have to try to win. After two games in reverse, I saw that that I needed to get closer to the table, because she has such a specific top spin, which rotates with a large trajectory. And, of course, I needed to be more aggressive with attacks. In the sixth game I had a chance to complete the match in my favor, I had three match balls. We had such a high level of table tennis that it didn't matter much - an advantage of 1 or 3 balls. Luck could smile at me and my adversary. I produced a good, high-quality cut, I successfully entered the attack on the left,” explained Viktoria.

 

Next adversary is YANG Xiaoxin from Monaco.

 

“ I had never played against her. I have watched her games, she plays well against defensive players. We will fight.”

 

LI Jie of Netherlands overcame Stephanie LOEUILLETTE of France (12-10, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2).

 

“Stephanie is very good against player with the defensive style of play. I had to change my game and I was forced to attack more. In addition, I was very nervous at the beginning. This kind of event is only once in four years, so everything has to be perfect,” said LI.

 

Petrissa SOLJA of Germany also needed only for games to overcame young Ozge YILMAZ of Turkey (11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8)

 

“She is still junior with the very good feel for ball and very good service, but there my win was never in question. I had to win this one,” said SOLJA. ”In the next round I will meet LI QIAN. I beat her recently at Top 16, but it was close. I have a chance but I will have to fight hatd.”

 

Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden Natalia PARTYKA (5-11, 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8).

 

“We played twice against each other and I never beat her before. She is very fast and I knew if I attack too hard or too quick she will respond even harder. From the opening game my tactics gets clearer and I was more relaxed,” said Matilda.

 

HAN Ying of Germany overcame Luxembourg’s Sarah DE NUTTE (11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4).

 

“There is a lot of tension in the venue. The Olympic Games are in stakes, so everyone is under pressure. Luckily, I felt good from the very start of the match. I felt confident, so it ended as good as I expected,” said HAN.

 

HAN will meet Sofia POLCANOVA in the next Round. Austria’s representative overcame Nathalie MARCHETTI of Belgium in Round of 32 (11-4, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8).

 

“Nathalie is the player who likes to risk, so I was on alert. I managed to make her feel uncomfortable to prevent her of creating her game. I did not give her balls on the racket,” said POLCANOVA.

 

Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia overcame Giorgia PICCOLIN of Italy (11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-4).

 

“I won the mixed doubles match this morning, but singles match is completely different thing. I needed some time to get into the rhythm. She is very dangerous if the top spin is not long enough,” commented Polina.

 

Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic lost against SHAO Jieni of Portugal (5-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 13-15).