European Games 2019 Minsk   In the match for the bronze medal Worlds and two times European Champion Ni Xia Lian beat YANG Xiaoxin of Monaco (3-11 11-3 12-10 7-11 7-11 8-11). At age of 56 NI booked the ticket for her fifth Olympic Games.   “It never was important like it was today. In 2004 I was in top eight in the World; it came easy at that time. However now I have to fight very hard to burn for this. If I have not succeeded now it will be impossible differently. The system is so difficult. That is why I fought so hard. When I lost third game by being 10-6 up it hurt so much. Ooooh how it hurts. YANG is very dangerous. I had to study her game but even that sometimes did not help. That is why I am so exciting now ” said NI.   Being successful after so many years in table tennis and being motivated is the subject that puzzled us.   “The key ingredient is love. I have family who supports me and loves me. My 88 years old mother two children siblings…I have Luxembourg Federation Olympic Committee…all of them supporting me. They are all there for me and they support me of being devoted to this sport because otherwise I could not succeed. Young generations work so hard and they are better and better and I only get older.”   In the semi final NI Xia LIan stretched YU Fu to full distance (6-11 6-11 11-5 11-6 6-11 8-11) as well as YANG Xiaoxin of Monaco did to HAN Ying of Germany (11-7 9-11 8-11 10-12 11-8 11-9 9-11).     YU Fu of Portugal is the crowned champions of  the Women’s Singles Event at he second European Games 2019 in Minsk. Silver medalist is Germany’s HAN Ying whilst bronze medal and last available place for 2020 Olympics in Japan went to NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg.   The owner of silver and two bronze medals at the Europeans YU Fu beat Continental Championships’ bronze medalists Han Ying (11-5 11-8 9-11 9-11 11-6 11-7). YU maintained her patience and put HAN under severe pressure.   “I was calm. We played against each other five or six times before and I knew what to do. Previously I rushed into mistakes now I did not let it happen. I waited for her errors ” explained FU. “I am so happy I reached the Olympics again.Now my preparations will be much better and easier. I won’t need to play that many competitions for the next year. It will be much more relaxed.”         HAN was disappointed but she got good consolation.   “It is hard when you lost the final match but in a week or two I am sure I will be happy for the medal and the place at the Olympic Games. If only this match was played tomorrow…I was so tired after the semi final against YANG Xiaoxin. It was very hard match and my legs were shaky in the final. I was tired and could not play at my best ” explained HAN.    

European Games 2019 Minsk       Tristan FLORE and Laura GASNIER overcame hard time they had after the morning defeat and beat Lubomir PISTEJ and Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia (6-11 13-11 11-8 11-6).   “It was hard to play when we lost the possibility to fight for the place at the Olympic tournament. Good thing was that we beat BALAZOVA and PISTEJ at Qatar Open so we were confident. We stayed closed to the table and attacked something what we needed to do against Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS in the semi final ” said Tristan FLORE.   GASNIER also struggled with the motivation.   “I was very negative and had a hard time after defeat. We came here for gold ” said GASNIER.   In the semi final French pairings Tristan FLORE and Laura GASNIER suffered by the hands of Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania (13-11 8-11 12-10 6-11 8-11). Lubomir PISTEJ and Barbora BALAZOVA lost to Patrick FRANZISKA and Petrissa SOLJA of Germany (6-11 11-6 11-13 4-11).       Patrick FRANZISKA and Petrissa SOLJA of Germany clinched gold medal in the Mixed Doubles Event at the second European Games 2019 in Minsk. Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania won silver medal whilst bronze went to Tristan FLORE and Laura GASNIER of France.   FRANZISKA and SOLJA also secured their place at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020. In the final they overcame IONESCU and SZOCS in furious style (4-11 4-11 4-11). They played closest to the perfect match as it can be.   “Yes it was like that from the first ball. IONESCU and SZOCS won that particular one but we had a good feeling. It was brilliant game; we were so confident. Even before the match I was not so nervous. It is not usual considering the importance of the match. Gold and place for Olympics were on stake but still I was calm ” said SOLJA.   FRANZISKA felt the same.   “When Petty lost her singles match she sat sad in the corner but very quickly she managed to lift herself; she regained good spirit. It helped me too. I was calm and confident. It was the same at the World Championships; we won the medal after Petty lost singles ” said FRANZISKA.               Romania’s pairings got consolation in silver.   “We came for gold and it is hard to talk after defeat but silver at the European Games is a great achievement and I am proud of it ” said IONESCU.   Romania will now turn to the Team’s Event that commences on Thursday.   “We are European Champions and we are here to justified our status ” said SZOCS.      

European Games 2019 Minsk     European Under 21 Champion Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia overcame European singles champion Emmanuel LEBESSON of France (12-10 10-12 10-12 7-11 6-11).   “I had a shaky start of the match; I had two games balls t 10:8 but made easy errors and I lost it. However I kept my positive energy and attitude and continued with lot of self confidence. Next two games I won by narrow margin and it was only the third game when I finally read the LEBESSON’s style. I get into his system and prevailed ” said PUCAR who reached the Round of 16 at the World Championships.       Cedric NUYTINCK of Belgium suffered by the hands of KOU Lei of Ukraine (12-10 8-11 8-11 8-11 11-4 10-12).   “I am happy I managed to get over my injury. Now I am very happy the way I play. Tomorrow I will give my best to reach the place in the Olypmpics ” said KOU.   Tomorrow in Tennis Olympic Center in Minsk Timo BOLL of Germany Jonathan GROTH of Denmark Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia and KOU Lei of Ukraine will play for three tickets for Olympic Games in Japan 2020. Three medals winners will gain direct pass to Tokyo.   Jonathan GROTH of Denmark beat WANG Yang of Slovakia in thrilling seven games (11-9 7-11 12-14 10-12 12-10 11-3 11-7).   “I am exhausted. Few times in the match I thought I will get cramps. It was so long and hard duel. At the end it had to be perfect match to beat him. I can tell that I am unsatisfied with one or two strokes during the match everything else was perfect. Even I had lost I will be still thinking the same. He is so fast maybe the fastest player at the field ” said GROTH.” I stared good but I won by narrow margin. If it had been little bit wider gap 11-4 or 5 maybe he will not be that enthusiastic but here he felt he was close so he rose his game.”       In today’s quarterfinal Timo BOLL and Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus took the best of each other. In fantastic duel followed by frantic cheering from the stands ended in favor of BOLL (10-12 11-6 16-14 12-10 11-7).   “It was very intense game. Second and third one was very important. I had to be focused on each ball. When SAMSONOV is playing like he did today he can beat everyone. It was important for me to stay calm not to crack under pressure. He went after each ball in full strength there can not be mistake. Also I had to make an advantage because the home crowd gave him wings. There were lot to think about; but most important I had to stay focused ” said BOLL.    

    YANG Xiaoxin of Monaco was the first player to book her semi final place on the third day of the play. She overcame bronze medalist from European Championships in 2015 Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia in straight games (7-11 9-11 1-11 5-11).  Russia’s player could not find the answer for YANG nor the game to block her.   “I played two time before in French League against MIKHAILOVA and both time won. I like to play against her style. I know what to do to win. Most important thing is to change rhythm of the game constantly. I never used same service nor play at the same side. I changed forehand for backhand went close to the table back…In second game she had a chance she came close but after I prevailed I thing she just lost her edge ” said YANG.         NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg  overcame Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden (11-8 11-7 11-9 5-11 11-9).   NI Xia Lian won gold medal in team’s event and in mixed doubles at the World Championships in 1983 for China she played three times at the Olympic Games and won two gold medals in singles for Luxembourg in 1998 and 2002. Although NI made a break and thought she may leave table tennis for good in Minsk she plays like in the best days.   Famous as incredibly difficult adversary for the players with the defensive style of play she proved it once again against Swede.   “I beat her already twice so I had some mental advantage. Nevertheless I was cautious. I knew I can not risk to much I have to play conservative and to be patient. Even I was prepared she surprised me a little. She improved her game very much ” said NI.     HAN Ying of Germany YU Fu of Portugal NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg and YANG Xiaoxin of Monaco booked their place in the semi final of the Women’s singles event at the European Games 2019 Minsk.   HAN Ying of Germany avenged her 2015 defeat at the first European Games in Baku against LI Jie (5-11 11-8 12-14 7-11 5-11). The game was played under expedite rule and it seamed worked in favor of German player.   “ I tried to be more aggressive no t toe be to much passive. I have mixed record against her. I beat her recently but I still remember our match from Baku ” said HAN.   In next round she will meet YANG.   “If I repeat my today’s game I do not have reason to worry. I am very satisfied with my performance.”               In the match full of turns YU Fu of Portugal overcame Petrissa SOLJA of Germany (11-8 12-10 10-12 11-6 8-11 7-11 13-11).   “I’ve played her two times before and our matches have been like this both previous times. The first time she did 3-0 and I came back to 3-3. The second time I was up 3-0 and she came back to 3-3. It’s always like this. One starts and the other comes back. It’s really hard to close the match because she’s really difficult. She always plays it on the table.” On facing 55-year-old upset NI Xia Lian in the semi-final: “I only remember having played her once before. I won. We’ve both played for many years and are very experienced in this sport but now we’re in the semi-finals and all matches are very even.”

European Games 2019 Minsk   Seven times European Champion Timo BOLL needed only four games to overcame Marcos FREITAS of Portugal on his way to the quarterfinal of the Men’s Singles Event at the European Games in Minsk (11-7 13-11 11-8 11-7).   Second game was very important but BOLL overcame the pressure and secured important victory.   “I am satisfied with the victory. Key to success was the receive. His service game is very dangerous to me but this time I coped good with it. If I had let him win the second game the match may have much different course ” said BOLL.   Fully crowded Tennis Center in Minsk exploded when Vladimir SAMSONOV secured his place among top eight players today. Russia’s Kirill SKACHKOV could not halt his progress but he stretched SAMSONOV to the limits (11-8 4-11 18-16 4-11 7-11 11-13)   “Similar to yesterday I had a very close game. The third game was long. I had several good chances to win it but unfortunately I lost. It is good that in the next game I came forward from the very beginning. In the last game I lost 5-9 it was 10-10 11-11 then we had a controversial point where Kirill had questions. It seemed to me that the ball hit the table down which means my point. In any case I granted the right to resolve this issue to the umpires. And they gave me a point. I am glad that I won but I don’t like when such situations happen. Kirill is my very good friend and this is not pleasant ” said SAMSONOV.   In the next round he will meet no. one seed.   “In the past few years Timo BOLL has played great he is again at the top. I hope that the audience will help me tomorrow.”   Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia overcame Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece (8-11 12-10 9-11 11-9 11-8 11-9).   “At 1:1 and 9:5 in third game I was already see myself as a winner. So many times it worked against me and this was the case again. However I managed to learn from my mistakes and after I lost that game I did not lose my head. I stayed calm and keep on playing. I overcame situations where GIONIS was few time in lead. I did not crack under pressure. In Fulda I played against defense and finally it paid of. Two years ago I lost against GIONIS 4:0 now I beat him ” explained PUCAR.         Dane Jonathan GROTH created a top rated upset by beating the winner of the European Games 2015 edition and the no. two seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany. He prevailed in four straight games (7-11 7-11 9-11 9-11).   “I started very good and I gained an early control over the match. In the opening game it was 9:3 for me; I called for the time out after he narrowed the gap at 9:7. Luckily it was good decision so I won the opening game. In the third game I was in the trouble again but I could not let him recover. If I gave him chance it could be fatal. This is the win of my career ” said GROTH.   OVTCHAROV was clearly disappointed after the match.   “He started well. I never managed to settle in to the rhythm throughout whole match. I came here to win but this time he was better player ” said OVTCHAROV.   Asked about his next adversary GROTH said: ”I do not know. When you see Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in your part of the draw you do not look further.”   He learned WANG Yang of Slovakia will be next in line.   “I played close matches against him so far so I did not expect nothing easier this time. He played very good at the World Championships this year.   WANG Yang overcame Slovenia’s Bojan TOKIC (7-11 11-7 8-11 11-6 11-5 11-8). He reached Round of 16 this year at the World Championships.   Swede Kristian KARLSSON suffered by the hands of Emmanuel LEBESSON of France (6-11 7-11 9-11 11-8 14-12 5:11).   “I took a good start had good backhand. That was important because when such players like KARLSSON make a lead it is hard to catch them. Even with 2:0 I was not safe. I had all the time in the back of my mind that he is capable of making comeback. He is great fighter one of the best players in Europe and in the World. In fifth game I had a match ball but did not lose my spirit after match went to the sixth game ” said LEBESSON.   In the quarterfinal he will meet Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia.   “He had incredible season; reached Round of 16 at the World Championships and played every time in the Main Draw of pro tournaments. It will be3 difficult match.”   KOU Lei of Ukraine overcame Russia’s Aleksandr SHIBAEV (11-9 11-4 6-11 7-11 11-9).   “The receive was the key. I was good in that part and it gave me opportunity to play backhand on backhand game. No one feels ball well here and it is important to get every one to the table ” said KOU.

European Games 2019 Minsk   In the Round of 16 in the Women’s Singles Event at the European Games in Minsk Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden seeded at the position no. 26 overcame no. 6 seed Hungary’s Georgina POTA in straight games (11-6 11-4 11-8 15-13). The only time Georgina came close was in the fourth game.   “I knew how good is she so I got nothing to lose. I was focused on my game; I tried to put the balls to all corners of the table to play with lot of variations and use my forehand as much as I can. I got her out of the rhythm and kept her out of her pace. However in the fourth game I did not change the game POTA adjusted she played to my backhand and narrowed the difference. I made easy mistake at 10:9 then got lucky with one point…but generally I was three games in advance and I knew I have the space if something went wrong. I was under pressure but not severe ” explained Linda.   LI Jie of Netherlands no. 7 seed overcame SHAO Jieni of Portugal seeded at the position 28 (9-11 9-11 11-6 12-10 13-15 11-5 11-7). Portugal’s player did not go easy. She had advantage 2:0 before LI recovered.   “I played three times against her and I lost in one occasion. She is very fast. I needed some time to adjust my game. I recovered but her service game is very strong so my only option was to attack. I could not risk with defense ” explained LI.   Portugal’s YU Fu justified her rankings. No. 8 seed overcame Ukraine’s Hanna GAPONOVA listed at position no. 28 (11-3 11-5 11-7 9-11 11-7).         Bronze medal winner in 2013 in singles at the European Championships Germany’s HAN Ying beat Austria’s medalist from Alicante Sofia POLCANOVA in straight games but each was very close (12-10 13-11 13-11 11-8).   “It was close because in each game POLCANOVA commenced with new tactics. She did not play in her usual style and she changed the game in each set. That gave her little advantage but I had good record against her and I was very confident. I managed to recover every time ” explained HAN.   Good skills against players with defensive style proved as a very valuable currency in Minsk. Monaco’s YANG Xiaoxin overcame Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus in straight games (12-10 11-5 11-7 11-7) to disappoint the crowd in Belarus.    “I love to play against players with defensive style but you never know what is going to be. They are all different. Viktoria never attacks her style is very specific. I had to change my rhythm to change everything service receive…It was difficult match whatever results predicted ” said YANG.         Following the defeat of no. two seed Sofia POLCANOVA seeded one place below at position no 3 Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden also faced early exit. In the Round of 16 Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA emerged victoriously (5-11 13-11 11-9 8-11 11-5 7-11 8-11).   Matilda put Polina under severe pressure but MIKHAILOVA survived.   “I never won against Matilda and we played so many times against each other. When I managed to win the opening game that give me slight advance. It boosted my confidence and I think it affected her game too. She made mistakes on first ball which is not usuall. Also I had my downs. I lost second game after had 10-8 and after that I lost third very easy. When we reached decisive game I told myself ‘yell shout do whatever it takes just win’. Even I did not know how I managed ” said MIKHAILOVA.   In next round she will meet YANG Xiaoxin.   “Good thing is that we played against each other in French League. l I know her style. I beat her once and lost in two occasions but nevertheless I know how to prepare myself.”           The Women’s Singles Event is shattered by upsets. Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS no one seed suffered by the hands of NI Xiao Lian of Luxembourg (7-11 8-11 9-11 11-7 11-9 11-8 7-11).   “This is a crazy game that makes everyone nervous ” smiled NI after the match. ”I had a chance to finish the duel in the fifth game but I lost my focus. In next game Bernadette was really good but when the decisive game came I had a better ‘head’. SZOCS is very young and she improves her game with each tournament but sometimes the experience could help a little. Everybody come prepared here there is no doubt about it but sometimes the pressure is to high ” said NI.   Petrissa SOLJA maintained her patience to overcame defensive skills of European champion Poland’s LI Qian (14-12 8-11 12-10 6-11 11-5 10-12 5-11) in seven thrilling games.   “I expected long match that was the only way to beat her. Otherwise it will not be good. In opening game and in third one she beat me by narrow margin she even had a match ball but I changed the tactics. I did not go for 100 percent clear shot. I tried to put as many balls at the table as it needs to look for safer opportunity. I was looking for longer rallies. Also I had German team to support me; people from Olympic committee and other sports. It was something special ” said SOLJA.  

European Games 2019 in Minsk   Top seeded pairings in Mixed Doubles Event at the European Games 2018 in Minsk Slovakia’s Lubomir PISTEJ and Barbora BALAZOVA overcame Spain’s Alvaro ROBLES and Galia DVORAK (11-7 14-12 11-5) on their way to the semi final.   “We played last year against them in Australia and then it was much harder. However their game is not very dangerous to us. It was much harder for them to play against us ” said PISTEJ.   BALAZOVA added that they play together for almost a decade.   “We know each other very well. We had some breaks due the injuries but still we work well together. We have two medals from European Championships and quarterfinal tat he World Championships this year. Our goal is to get medal here. Then we will think about ultimate goal- place at the 2020 Olympics ” said BALAZOVA.     Italy’s Niaglo STOYANOV and Giorgia PICCOLIN suffered by the hands of Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA and Petrissa SOLJA (2-11 4-11 6-11). German pairings will meet Slovakia’s doubles in semis.   “Everyone told us it is going to be much easier match against Italians that the one from yesterday against FALCK and EKHOLM but I was on alert. We did not want to let anything by chance. At the end everything was fine. All segments of the game worked fine ” said SOLJA.   FRANZISKA added:” We were focused. I can not remember that even one stroke was wasted.”   About forthcoming match SOLJA commented: ”BALAZOVA spent a lot of time at the trainings in the Dusseldorf we know her. For sure it will not be easy match.”   Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS are also long time together and that spirit helped them in straight games victory over Russia’s Aleksandr SHIBAEV and Polina MIKHAILOVA (11-3 11-7 11-8). Romania’s pairings also have two medals at the European Championships in Mixed Doubles.   “They beat us recently at the Hungarian Open so we learnt from that experience. Polina is very dangerous player but we managed to impose our tactic. Our team spirit prevailed ” said IONESCU.   SOCS is never lack of positive energy.   “We lost against them in Hungary after being 2:0 up. Our mistakes drew us into the defeat. Now we were prepared ” said SZOCS.   In the semi final they will meet Tristan FLORE and Laura GASNIER of France. French pairings overcame host nations favorites Pavel PLATONOV and Nadezhda BOGDANOVA (11-4 7-11 11-6 12-14 11-4).   “We started really good everything went smooth until the second game. Then they started to block us very good they pushed the balls deep and kept us far from table. We regain the control in third game before once again they rose their game. In the decisive one Laura was the player in charge. She brought us here ” said FLORE.   GASNIER kept her nerve in the fifth game but admitted the tension was very high.   “I managed to be near the table but the balls BOGDANOVA was playing were very difficult for me. PLATONOV tried to slow the game in order to regain the control. I maintained focus despite great tension in the match ” said GASNIER.    

European Games 2019 Minsk   The runner up at the World Championships held this April no. two seed in Belarus Mattias FALCK of Sweden is out from the Round of 32 at the European Games in Minsk. Russia’s Aleksandr SHIBAEV accounted for Swede in straight games (9-11 9-11 7-11 3-11)   “I was calm and focused from the beginning. I pushed FALCK to the limits throughout whole match. I kept him under pressure force him to play from uncomfortable positions kept him at the wrong foot ” said SHIBAEV.   FALCK did not look for the excuse for his game.   “It is sport. SHIBAEV was better player this time. Hope next time it will be better because hardly it can get any worse than this.”   Cederic NYTINCK of Belgium beat Benedek OLAH of Finland (11-3 11-4 7-11 11-5 11-13 11-9) whilst Alvaro ROBLES of Spain lost to KOU Lei of Ukraine (6-11 11-13 9-11 11-8 10-12).   Simon GAUZY of France Andrej GACINA of Croatia (11-9 6-11 9-11 11-8 11-9 5-11 10-12). Simon had four match balls but failed to make it to the next round.   “It was so close…GAUZY is very clever player. He changed the rhythm constantly; I was forced to adjust my game throughout the whole match. My weak points were receiving of service but in the exchange of balls I was better. At the end I was brave at 6-10 I took the control and won ” said GACINA.  

European Games 2019 Minsk   Seeded at the position no. 20 in the Men’s Singles Event Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece halted the progress of no. four seed Liam PITCHFORD of Great Britain in the Round of 32 (6-11 9-11 10-12 11-6 10-12).   “It was much better than I expected. I had some advantage of already playing yesterday in this hall. Also our games were much different then before. We usually play long rallies but this time everything came to the small points. I was very focused avoided unnecessary mistakes. I have been under pressure after fourth game. I felt he could recover and I could not allow that. I think it will be completely different match if I let him come back ” explained GIONIS.   In next round he will meet Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia.   “He improved a lot his game. Now we are in Top 16 and there are no easy adversaries ” added GIONIS.       Niagol STOYANOV of Italy put Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus under severe pressure (11-8 14-16 12-14 10-12 11-9 11-2 11-9). SAMSONOV was three games to one in reverse before he recovered to win the match in front of fully crowded stands that erupted.   “STOYANOV is a very difficult adversary for me. He plays in an aggressive style I do not feel safe playing against such style. Despite the fact that I lost three games I still had a chance to win. I was not going to give up. At some point I was a little unlucky but with at  10-9 in seventh game I made a very good return and won. Usually when you go through such a hard starting match it becomes easier to play more relaxed. There will not be the nervousness that was at the beginning of the first game. Now I have a feeling that I have already won the II European Games although I know that the medals are still very far away “ said SAMSONOV laughing.   He will meet SKACHKOV.   “Kirill knows me well besides before the II European Games we held a training camp. Now I will recover and tune in to the next game. I had a tough match and I thank everyone for support.”   Emmanuel LEBESSON of France overcame Anders LIND of Denmark (9-11 11-4 11-8 11-9 11-9).   “LIND played yesterday already so he felt the venue better but it did not change a course of the play because I feel really good. In past few weeks I had very good matches against European players at the Asian tournaments ” said European singles champion from Budapest LEBESSON. “I had to be cautious after his service game. He is dangerous on the first ball.”   Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden beat Robert GARDOS of Austria (9-11 11-8 8-11 11-9 11-7 11-9)   “To be me first game in this tournament I am happy. Of course there is some things that I need to work on until the next round. But I am pretty sure it will be better. I was very nervous. I think a lot of players here are under pressure. This is different tournament.”   Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany beat Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece (11-5 11-3 11-9 11-3)   “I had good focus from the beginning and managed to avoid easy mistakes. Eventually that brought me easy win. I do not think about my next adversary. I will take it as it comes it makes not great difference if it is going to be WALKER or GROTH because I am very confident. The biggest obstacle here is the pressure: everyone is after the ticket for Japan 2020 ” said OVTCHAROV.     Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal suffered by the hands of WANG Yang of Slovakia (9-11 11-7 7-11 6-11 8-11). WANG will meet Bo0jan TOKIC of Slovenia in the Round of 16. Bojan beat Daniel HABESOHN of Austria (11-13 9-11 3-11 6-11).   “I feel good here and I did not lose that feeling in this match. I hope I will stay in game after tomorrow. Last time I beat WANG at the European Championships 2017 ” said TOKIC.   Jonathan GROTH of Denmark beat Sam WALKER of Great Britain in the match full of ups and downs (11-4 4-11 7-11 11-5 8-11 14-12 11-7).   “In the opening game I played really well. The trouble started in the next one. SAMSONOV was playing at that moment and the crowd was very loud. I should not allow this tings to distract me so much but it happened: it was 4:4 before I lost seven points in the row. Sam took over the control of the match. In the sixth game I was already out but mistake from the umpire took focus out of WALKER. I feel sorry for him but I seized my opportunity ” said GROTH.