Russia and Romania in the semi final
Russia and Romania joined Ukraine and Germany in the semi final of the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. Reigning champions Germany will meet host nation whilst the other duel is Romania vs. Ukraine.
Russia overcame Portugal the team who played for the first time in the quarterfinal of the Continental Championships. Yana NOSKOVA suffered at the beginning of the match against YU Fu.
“It is not the first time. We meet before and I lost 2:4. Today I had a lead 6:3 in the opening game I won second and third but after 2:1 she changed her tactics she pushed the ball harder and I could not follow ” said NOSKOVA.
Polina MIKHAILOVA won both her matches again.
“Against SHAO Jieni I was nervous. First game was very close. Against YU Fu it was also a mind game. I guess in the battle of the wills I was better ” stated Polina.
Anna TIKHOMIROVA burst into the tears after the match.
“I had only one chance in the match to bring the point to my team. I am so happy I succeeded.”
Romania outplayed Poland. All three players scored but it was Poland who made advantage first. LI Qian overcame Bernadette SZOCS in straight games to give her team dream start.
“I overcame LI Qian in Champions League but I was not feel good today. I had a bad start. It did not make me worry. We have a very good team and I believed we could win at the end. One of the reason for the success of Romania’s table tennis is perfect team spirit ” revealed SZOCS.
In the decisive match Bernadette beat Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA in five games.
“It is first time that I won the full distance match since I become senior player.”
And that victory came in most worthy moment. In previous match LI Qian beat Elizabeta SAMARA to force the fifth game. Elizabeta beat GRZYBOWSKA previously.
“She is very good with the left handers. I was unable to play my game. However at the end it came to the mind game; in fifth set I was just much better in my head. I won 11:8.”
Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO overcame Natalia PARTYKA.
“Tomorrow everything is going to hurt me. I was quite time absent from this high level tournaments. Natalia forced me into very hard rallies.”
