European champion from 2013 LI Fen beat no. two seed SHAN Xiaona
In the Round of 16 of the Women’s Singles Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships European champion from 2013 LI Fen of Sweden beat no. two seed SHAN Xiaona of Germany 4:2 (3:11 11:8 9:11 13:11 11:3 11:1).
In the re-run of 2013’s final LI showed impressive performance.
“I fell I have been little bit lucky. I did not expect I would play so well. Only recently I started to practice again and I am feeling I am coming back in shape. I gave birth of my second son eight months ago but I feel full of energy now” explain LI Fen.
Georgina POTA of Hungary accounted for Irene IVANCAN to book her place in the last eight.
Second time today POTA maintained her patience to overcome the defensive skills of her adversary. In the morning hours she beat XUE Li of France. Against XUE POTA won in five games whilst against IVANCAN she needed one less – 4:0 (11:9 11:3 11:6 11:7).
“I have blocked almost every ball coming from Irene. She had no answer at all. Here in the Ekaterinburg I also played against LI Qian in team’s event. I feel confident now playing against the players with such style. Few years ago it was not the case at all. In Hungary I had no chance to play against them but after I started to play for Berlin it changed ” explained POTA who was two years playing with IVANCAN in Berlin before she left to Istanbul.
HAN Ying of Germany overcame SHEN Yanfei of Spain 4:0 (11:3 11:9 11:9 11:5).
“Slowly I adapted to the conditions here and especially the ball. I am happy that everything went so well against SHEN Yanfei. She played relatively passive so it was a bit easier for me. Against Polina MIKHALOVA I had 4:0 at the Czech Open. But she is playing much stronger here. I expect very difficult match ” said HAN.
Polina MIKHAYLOVA of Russia beat Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia 4:1 (11:8 11:6 5:11 12:10 11:5) Elizabeta SAMARA prevailed against Tetyana BILENKO of Ukraine 4:0 (11:1 11:8 11:7 11:5).
LI Jie of Netherlands overcame Carole GRUNDISCH of France 4:0 (11:6 12:10 11:7 11:2).
“After the Team’s Event I had two days off without the matches. Today I played four matches. I am so tired. I managed to have some rest after the doubles. I slept in players lounge for 20 minutes and that helped me. However I cannot complain. Now I am very happy; I recorded all four wins today ” said LI Jie.
Earlier today LI overcame former European champion Ruta PASKAUSKAITE of Lithuania before she accounted for Carole.
“I never beat Ruta before. It was very difficult match for me. Against GRUNDISCH it was little bit better.”
LIU Jia of Austria suffered by the hands of FU Yu of Portugal 1:4 (3:11 13:15 8:11 11:8 6:11) and LI Qian of Poland lost against Petrissa SOLJA of Germany 2:4 (6:11 14:12 8:11 11:5 10:12 8:11).
