Champions League Men | 7 Sep 2013
MIZUTANI not gives up so easily
Reigning Russian champion, 2011/12 MECL finalist, UMMC Verkhnaya P. faced tough adversaries in their opening duel of the ECL. AS Pontoise Cergy had a good chance for win with 2:1 in their pocket, before they lost two full distance duels in two last matche
Reigning Russian champion, 2011/12 MECL finalist, UMMC Verkhnaya P. faced tough adversaries in their opening duel of the ECL. AS Pontoise Cergy had a good chance for win with 2:1 in their pocket, before they lost two full distance duels in two last matches.
After marathon start, with first set finished 18:16, Marcos FREITAS managed to seal opening match in four games. Portugal’s players ranked at position no. 23 this month on ITTF rankings beat European singles vice champion from Croatia TAN Ruiwu World’s no. 38 to give French team good start.
Tristan FLORE 2011 European Junior Champion from Kazan managed to recover from 2:0 in reverse and to level the match against Jun MIZUTANI world`s no. 15. However, Japan’s the 2010 Pro Tour Grand Finals winner at Seoul, who replaced good Chinese defender HOU Yingchao justified his reputation. He left only 6 points to Tristan in the decisive game.
Pendulum swung again when Kristian KARLSSON Worl’s no. 93 beat Portugal’s Joao MONTEIRO to give AS Pontoise Cergy lead again. It was close game, but still Swede managed to finish it in four games.
Jun MIZUTANI was starched once again to full distance in duel against Marcos FREITAS, but player from Japan preserved unbeaten status in opening round. FLORE put TAN under severe pressure and forced him to go full distance. However experienced player prevailed.
AS Pontoise Cergy – UMMC Verkhnaya P. 2:3
FREITAS Marcos – TAN Ruiwu 3:1 (18:16, 11:9, 7:11, 11:4)
FLORE Tristan – MIZUTANI Jun 2:3 (6:11, 7:11, 11:6, 13:11, 6:11)
KARLSSON Kristian – MONTEIRO Joao 3:1 (11:9, 11:9, 7:11, 11:9)
FREITAS Marcos- MIZUTANI Jun 2:3 (11:8, 4:11, 11:4, 3:11, 8:11)
FLORE Tristan – TAN Ruiwu 2:3 (4:11, 11:9, 8:11, 12:10, 8:11)
