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.     Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here

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.     Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here

China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup   Best four players who will fight for the place in the final of the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup tomorrow in Montreux are Li Jie of Netherlands who will meet Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania and in other semis we will watch Bernadette SZOCS of Romania and Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden.   After four times she participated at the Top 16 Bernadette SZOCS reached the semi final for the first time. She beat Georgina POTA of Hungary (7:11 6:11 5:11 10:12).   “I am so happy. I lost so many times against her in the past but I beat her last time and that gave me confidence. I believe in myself and I believe I could win. It is my first semi final. It is unbelievable ” said SZOCS.   In the quarter final SAMARA avenged Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN’S defeat earlier today by beating LIU Jia in very effective way (11:4 11:7 3:11 7:11 11:13).   “I felt much better then this morning. I took the full control from the beginning. Even when I lost third game I was sure I could come back. I was very confident ” said SAMARA.   Top seeded LI Jie overcame Germany’s Sabine WINTER (11:5 11:4 10:12 11:5 11:8).   “Winter is the player who has very good feeling for defenders. I beat her last year but I lost so many times before. The key thing today was that I felt calm relaxed. I was not under pressure although the match could easily go other way ” said LI.   Matilda EKHOLM overcame Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria (11:5 11:6 11:7 11:9).   “I was aware that I am danger if she feel my top spin then she will feel very safe. I forced myself to stay focused and do not let he get into the game. After I while I got her under pressure ” said Matilda.   Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here

China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup   In the quarterfinal of the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup no. one seed in the Men’s Singles Event Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany will meet Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece. His compatriot Bastian STEGER also booked his place among Top 8 whilst Sofia POLCANOVA and Matilda EKHOL progressed to the quarters in Women’s Event.   World’s no. one OVTCHAROV was at the top of his game against Lionel WEBER of Switzerland (11:9 11:9 11:8 11:5).   “I was focused from the beginning. It was nice to play against Lionel but now I am focused on forthcoming duel against GIONIS. It was while ago when I played last time against him. We played couple very hard matches and I have to prepare well for that match ” said OVTCHAROV.   Matilda EKHOLM beat Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus (11:5 11:8 11:5 11:6).   “I was ready. I spent four years in same club with Tetyana BILENKO so I know how to set a tactics. I forced hard top spins which made all efforts to keep the ball low very ineffective ” said EKHOLM.   Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria inflected the pain in the hart of the host nation supporters by beating Rachel MORET (6:11 4:11 8:11 14:12 6:11).   “MORET played very well. I had to be very aggressive fro the beginning and to prevent her of finding her rhythm. I was in control until the third game. After that I was little bit passive with my service and let her come back. Luckily I had better approach in fourth game ” said POLCANOVA.   Bastian STEGER of Germany overcame European champion from Budapest Emmanuel LEBESSON of France ( 11:6 12:10 7:11 5:11 9:11 4:11).   “IT was a very difficult match. It is always hard to play against LEBESSON because it hard to find the rhythm. I was little disappointed when I lost second game because I had a chance there. However I was much better with return from the third game and I took the control over the match ” said STEGER.       Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here

China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup   In the quarterfinal of the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup no. one seed in the Men’s Singles Event Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany will meet Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece. His compatriot Bastian STEGER also booked his place among Top 8 whilst Sofia POLCANOVA and Matilda EKHOL progressed to the quarters in Women’s Event.   World’s no. one OVTCHAROV was at the top of his game against Lionel WEBER of Switzerland (11:9 11:9 11:8 11:5).   “I was focused from the beginning. It was nice to play against Lionel but now I am focused on forthcoming duel against GIONIS. It was while ago when I played last time against him. We played couple very hard matches and I have to prepare well for that match ” said OVTCHAROV.   Matilda EKHOLM beat Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus (11:5 11:8 11:5 11:6).   “I was ready. I spent four years in same club with Tetyana BILENKO so I know how to set a tactics. I forced hard top spins which made all efforts to keep the ball low very ineffective ” said EKHOLM.   Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria inflected the pain in the hart of the host nation supporters by beating Rachel MORET (6:11 4:11 8:11 14:12 6:11).   “MORET played very well. I had to be very aggressive fro the beginning and to prevent her of finding her rhythm. I was in control until the third game. After that I was little bit passive with my service and let her come back. Luckily I had better approach in fourth game ” said POLCANOVA.   Bastian STEGER of Germany overcame European champion from Budapest Emmanuel LEBESSON of France ( 11:6 12:10 7:11 5:11 9:11 4:11).   “IT was a very difficult match. It is always hard to play against LEBESSON because it hard to find the rhythm. I was little disappointed when I lost second game because I had a chance there. However I was much better with return from the third game and I took the control over the match ” said STEGER.       Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here

China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup   Timo BOLL of Germany was not in the mood for charity in the opening match of the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup he beat Stefan FEGERL of Austria in straight games. By same margin Bernadette SZOCS prevailed against Tetyana BILENKO of Ukraine.   It looks like the easy match for BOLL (7:11 11:13 4:11 8:11).   “I think it was not that quite easy. It looks like that maybe because he forced me to play on my top level. I could not afford easy mistakes; he is my club mate in Dusseldorf and he was very hard adversary ” said BOLL.   After the draw BOLL joked that he might me at home for Super Bowl.   “Well I am great fan of American Football but I guess I will have to watch it here. I am feeling good and I am in good shape.”   Bernadette overcame defensive skills of Tetyana BILENKO in impressive style (4:11 6:11 12:14 9:11).   “I was well prepared for this match. I played a lot against defenders in my training center in Germany. I could not allowed to prolong the match to 2:2 or 3:3 because then she will have advantage. I feel comfortable now playing against such style and it is good thing that I do not have three defenders in my group like last year ” said SZOCS.     Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here

SAMSONOV fired up the crowd in in Montreaux   Since Dijon 1995 Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus participated 20 times at Top 12 and Top 16 events. Today on his 21st appearance at the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup he still wins. In the opening round of the Men’s Singles Event he overcame Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden after being two games in reverse (12:10 11:9 3:11 11:8 7:11 6:11 7:11).   Each of his winners were rewarded by long applause from the supporters in the Salle Omnisports du Pierrier in Montreux.   “I had few changes in two opening games. It was close on some points but at that stage KARLSSON was better. Later he became more passive with his service; it opened the space for me to attack. On the other side I was more aggressive with my service game. I improved my service during the match “ said SAMSONOV. “ All in all I am very happy. It is very good game for a beginning of a tournament. I am very happy with my performance.”   Georgina POTA of Hungary overcame Petrissa SOLJA of Germany (11:8 8:11 11:6 13:11 11:4).   “It is very difficult to play against teammate. We are together in berlin and we know each other very well. In addition she beat me in few previous encounter and I was not very confident before the game. Extra stress came from the fact that she is lefthander ” said POTA. “ I had a good service game and good game on two opening balls which gave confidence and made me a winner. It was not very nice match to watch like the one at the World Cup in Japan but it was effective.     Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here

SAMSONOV fired up the crowd in in Montreaux   Since Dijon 1995 Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus participated 20 times at Top 12 and Top 16 events. Today on his 21st appearance at the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup he still wins. In the opening round of the Men’s Singles Event he overcame Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden after being two games in reverse (12:10 11:9 3:11 11:8 7:11 6:11 7:11).   Each of his winners were rewarded by long applause from the supporters in the Salle Omnisports du Pierrier in Montreux.   “I had few changes in two opening games. It was close on some points but at that stage KARLSSON was better. Later he became more passive with his service; it opened the space for me to attack. On the other side I was more aggressive with my service game. I improved my service during the match “ said SAMSONOV. “ All in all I am very happy. It is very good game for a beginning of a tournament. I am very happy with my performance.”   Georgina POTA of Hungary overcame Petrissa SOLJA of Germany (11:8 8:11 11:6 13:11 11:4).   “It is very difficult to play against teammate. We are together in berlin and we know each other very well. In addition she beat me in few previous encounter and I was not very confident before the game. Extra stress came from the fact that she is lefthander ” said POTA. “ I had a good service game and good game on two opening balls which gave confidence and made me a winner. It was not very nice match to watch like the one at the World Cup in Japan but it was effective.     Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here

China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup   No one seed at the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup LI Jie of Netherlands justified her status and overcame Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia in the opening Round. Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden also showed his class and beat Ruwen FILUS of Germany.   Polina MIKHAILOVA failed to justify her reputation of a player who is very dangerous for a players with the defensive style. LI Jie was at the top of the game from the beginning up to the end (11:2 11:7 13:11 11:6).   “I was aware of her attack but I did not want to change anything in my game. I just stick to my tactics and won. It was 4:0 but it was not easy at all ” said LI. “Here are the best players in Europe the rankings are not important at such tournament. It will be difficult to reach the medal rostrum.”   Mattias KARLSSON felt comfortable against Ruwen FILUS’s defending skills. He maintained his patience to overcame Germany’s player.   “We have never played against each other before but I study his game. I do not have a lot of opportunities to play against defenders especially lefthanders. I played aggressive especially on the first ball and put all the pressure on him. I was only challenged in the third game when he came back with the good service but I managed to return the match on more desirable path ” said KARLSSON.     Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here

China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup   No one seed at the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup LI Jie of Netherlands justified her status and overcame Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia in the opening Round. Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden also showed his class and beat Ruwen FILUS of Germany.   Polina MIKHAILOVA failed to justify her reputation of a player who is very dangerous for a players with the defensive style. LI Jie was at the top of the game from the beginning up to the end (11:2 11:7 13:11 11:6).   “I was aware of her attack but I did not want to change anything in my game. I just stick to my tactics and won. It was 4:0 but it was not easy at all ” said LI. “Here are the best players in Europe the rankings are not important at such tournament. It will be difficult to reach the medal rostrum.”   Mattias KARLSSON felt comfortable against Ruwen FILUS’s defending skills. He maintained his patience to overcame Germany’s player.   “We have never played against each other before but I study his game. I do not have a lot of opportunities to play against defenders especially lefthanders. I played aggressive especially on the first ball and put all the pressure on him. I was only challenged in the third game when he came back with the good service but I managed to return the match on more desirable path ” said KARLSSON.     Event’s page here Organisers web site here Tickets are available here Facebook here Twitter here Instagram here