Olympic Games | 30 Jul 2024

Day 4, Paris 2024: OVTCHAROV advances confidently to the round of 16 to meet Felix LEBRUN

Photo: Courtesy ITTF

The Olympic record medalist Dimitrij OVTCHAROV reached the round of the last 16 in Paris after his well-deserved 4-1 victory in the second-round match against Brazilian Vitor ISHIY. Now faces a duel for the quarterfinals against France's 17-year-old superstar Felix LEBRUN. Meanwhile, European runner-up Nina MITTELHAM is also fighting against North Korean Pyon Song GYONG for a place in the round of 16.

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV, after a 4-0 opening victory over Mexican Marcos MADRID, put on another impressive performance in his second match against Vitor ISHIY, winning confidently in five sets. The Brazilian's set win after a 3-0 lead by the former world number one was, however, an avoidable blemish. In the fourth set, OVTCHAROV, after leading 10-6 and 12-11, missed five match points in a row before refocusing and converting his sixth match point in the fifth set for a secure 11-4, 11-8, 11-9, 11-13, and 11-3 victory over the world number 86.

"Vitor ISHIY is an unpleasant opponent who, like Hugo Calderano, plays with very high risk. When he hits his best shots, he is strong. I sometimes caught his first shot, but he then plays a strong second and third shot. Losing the fourth set after leading 10-6 hurt. That doesn't happen to me often. But I can't really blame myself. My shots were solid and he played his best table tennis with his back to the wall, right before being knocked out. During the break, I told myself, come on, you're leading 3-1, and in the fifth set, I tried to keep the intensity high from the first rally. That worked well, and I quickly took the edge off him in the fifth set. In the end, it was a solid game that I deservedly won," said OVTCHAROV

In the round of 16, Ovtcharov now faces the 17-year-old local hero Felix LeBrun. France's world number four brings the South Paris Arena 4 with its 6,400 spectators to a roar with each of his performances, creating the atmosphere of a football stadium.

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV admits: "The next game will be exciting. After seeing the draw, I had the possible duel with Felix in mind from the beginning. Now the level will, of course, be completely different. He is the world number four behind three Chinese players, which speaks for itself. My respect for the development he has made is immense. I've been around for a long time, and the Olympics are always something special. But here in France against Felix, the hall will be rocking like I've never experienced before. Maybe I need to approach it like Novak DJOKOVIC, who often draws energy from knowing the crowd is against him."

Bernadette SZOCS takes the first win on Day 4, overcoming Ukraine’s Margaryta PESOTSKA in five games (14-12, 11-5, 12-10, 14-12, 11-4). Next up for the Romanian is her doubles partner Sofia POLCANOVA in the Women's Singles round of 16.

11th seed Nina MITTELHAM has been eliminated from the Women's Singles. The German was shown an early exit by Pyon Song GYONG, with the World No.168 winning in a full distance marathon (6-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7). The match had plenty of drama, with MITTELHAM requiring a medical timeout at one point early in the match, but was quick to regroup and fight on. But PYON'S cool as a cucumber persona kept her shotmaking consistent until the last point. In all PRK took 66 points to Germany's 65, showing just how narrow the margins are between victory and defeat here in Paris. Next up for PYON in the round of 16 is a matchup with Adriana DIAZ.

Natalia BAJOR secured her first ever win over Fu YU. It was a marathon match with BAJOR crossing the finish line 4-3 (11-7, 11-8, 15-17, 4-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8). On winning the match BAJOR dropped the floor, pumping her fist in celebration. Next stop, a first-time showdown with Cheng I-CHING.