Europe Top-16 Cup | 3 Feb 2018
Jonathan GROTH beats the odds and reached semi final
Photo: Rémy Gros ITTF
China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup
In the semi final of the Men’s Singles Event at the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus will meet Timo BOLL of Germany, whilst Jonathan GROTH of Denmark will play against another Germany’s player Dimitrij OVTCHAROV World’s no. one.
In very close encounter OVTCHAROV overcame Panagiotis GIONIS (11:7, 12:10, 7:11, 11:9, 13:11).
“It is very difficult to play against the player with the defensive skill with new balls. It is good that I won in the fifth game, otherwise it will be hard to stop GIONIS. Now I have to focus on next duel against GROTH. Last year in the group stage of the Top 16 we played very good match,” said OVTCHAROV.
Jonathan GROTH overcame Alexander SHIBAEV in the quarter -final (9:11, 11:6, 11:6, 11:5, 12:10). Despite the bad start he recovered in very impressive way.
“I did not start well because first match against Tiago APLONIA was still in my mind. However, I managed to level at 9:9, but after service mistake SHIBAEV was able to seal the game. At the beginning of the second game I felt bad. I told that to my coach, but I kept fighting. SHIBAEV is not an easy adversary to beat, I felt uncomfortable with his service game, but as I said the key was to keep fighting for each ball,” said GROTH.
Vladimir SAMSONOV beat another KARLSSON today. In quarters, after Kristian, it was Mattias who left the arena defeated (11:9, 11:8, 11:7, 10:12, 14:12).
“I am in very good shape here and I needed all my skills to beat Mattias now. In the opening game I was 7:9 down and in fourth KARLSSON took his game to another level. If I did not win the fifth game I do not know how this duel will end. It was very close,” said SAMSONOV.
Timo BOLL faced his compatriot Bastian STEGER (7:11, 11:9, 5:11, 11:13, 6:11).
“The balls were different from the afternoon session, so it was not that much about tactics. It was important to put the ball on the table. The fourth game was very important. When I won that close game it opened the door for fast victory,” said BOLL.
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