Europe Top-16 Cup | 11 Feb 2023
Barbora BALAZOVA: Love the atmosphere in Montreux
The best European Players will once again gather at the most prestige Continental tournament on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February 2023. China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup is only two weeks away and Montreux is ready to host the 51st edition of the tournament.
The list of the competitors is impressive, and the good matches and fights are guaranteed.
In Women’s Event will play: HAN Ying of Germany, Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria, Nina MITTELHAM of Germany, YUAN Jia Nan of France, YU Fu of Portugal, Bernadette SZOCS of Romania, Hana MATELOVA of Czechia, NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg, Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania, Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia, Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden, SHAO Jieni of Portugal, Georgina POTA of Hungary, Rachel MORET of Switzerland, Christina KALLBERG of Sweden, Natalia BAJOR of Poland.
For Barbora BALAZOVA it will be her sixth appearance at Top 16.
“ It is always a privilege to play Top 16, and I think it is probably the nicest tournament to participate and play in Europe,” said BALAZOVA. “I always enjoy playing at the tournament and enjoy the special atmosphere that spectators make there.”
Barbora was on duty in Jordan this week at the WTT Contender Amman. In the first round she met one of the possible adversaries in Montreux, SHAO Jieni.
“Actually I had to give up my match against SHAO Jieni, as I got injured. So I cannot really comment the match. That is the reason, also, why is hard for me to comment my current shape. So far, I would say, I did not start this year perfectly, and also I had some health issues.”
BALAZOVA remained cautious answering about this year competition.
“My goal for now is to get healthy and to be able to get some practice before Top 16. What I think about the list of players who will come to Montreux, is that the tournament is going to be pretty interesting. There are many new players this year.”
How you comment the past 12 months between two edition of Top 16?
“I would say, last year was challenging for me, but definitely successful. I was able to lead my team to quarterfinals at the World Championships in China. That was a very special moment since we made a history for Slovakia. Maybe one of disappointing moments was losing first round of European Championships in Singles, as I felt in pretty good shape there,” stated Barbora BALAZOVA.
