European Championships | 12 Nov 2021

Elizabet ABRAAMIAN in perfect run

The Group Stages in the Women's Event of the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Belgium's Spa concluded on the third day of the play. Best 16 players tomorrow will continue their fights in the main draw.

In the top four Groups today, there were few upsets, but the leading name Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia justified her rankings. Mariia progressed to the Round of 16 after she beat all three players in her Group. Last one to suffer was Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic. With one win less, Camile LUTZ of France will also play tomorrow in the knock out phase.

No. two seed Sabina SURJAN of Serbia is also through, but she was only second in the Group. With three wins Annett KAUFMANN of Germany secured the leading position. Both players recorded victories today. Sabina beat Helga DARI of Hungary, whilst Annett overcame Leili MOSTAFAVI of France.

In Group C, no. 20 seed Lucie GAUTHIER of France remained unbeaten in Stage 2 and overcame Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO of Ukraine in straight games. Elena ZAHARIA of Romania followed her steps and after victory over Tatiana KUKULKOVA of Slovakia, no. three seed at the Event, also moved to the Round of 16.

No. 4 seed Ozge YILMAZ of Turkey was also halted in this stage. To the knock out phase from the spot no. one goes Poland's Katarzyna WEGRZYN after three wins. In the last round of the Group stage, in direct clash for the top position she overcame Ema LABOSOVA of Slovakia. Ema moved forward with two previous wins over Isa COK of France and YILMAZ.

Winner of the Juniors Singles and Doubles titles earlier this year at the European Youth Championships, Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia is-in the powerful run in Spa. No. 11 seed is unbeaten after six matches in Belgium. Today she overcame Gul Pembe OZKAYA of Turkey to move forward in knock out stage.

“ I was very cautious before the duel against OZKAYA. In the first phase she overcame GAUTHIER, so I was sure it will not go easy,” explained ABRAAMIAN. “Yesterday I was challenged in the match against LAURENTI. I knew she improved her game very much and since we did not play against each other for two, or three years I did not know what to expect. She changed her play with backhand and in the opening game I was completely lost. I could not read her game. It took me a while before it happened, but from the second game I found the right tactics for her.”

LAURENTI beat Alma ROOSE of Sweden in seven game thriller to secure her place in the Round of 16.

In Group F, no. 6 seed Anastasia KOLISH also departed earlier then he seedings predicted. From the top of the Group, with three wins Tania PLAIAN of Romania will move to the Round of 16, followed by Kornelija RILISKYTE of Lithuania. Tania recorded all three wins in straight games.

“I was playing for the top spot in the Group and I was very focused today against KOLISH. Of course, I got some extra confidence from yesterday's good result. The match against RILISKYTE was not easy, especially as I saw her beating KOLISH before our duel. I was a-little bit afraid before the start, but as the game progressed everything went well,” said PLAIAN.

Another Romania's player, Andreea DRAGOMAN is also safely through to the knock out stage. With three wins in second stage Andreea booked the top position in the Group H.

“For me the hardest part was coming from Stage one after defeat against Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO. I was under pressure at the beginning, but after the win over Franziska SCHREINER it was was much better. I managed to forget the defeat and to play with lot of confidence,” explained DRAGOMAN.

SCHREINER is second in the Group.

In Group G Tijana JOKIC no. 7 seed failed to win the place in next stage Anna WEGRZYN of Poland and Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia are placed at the positions no. one and two in the Group.