No. two seeds won all three matches
Romania justified their status and secured the top position in Group B in the Women’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. They reached quarter-final after three victories whilst Austria joined them with one less.
In the last match in their group Romania overcame France in straight games but all three players were severely tested. Elizabeta SAMARA was stretched to full distance against LI Xue and similar scenario was seen in the matches between Bernadette SZOCS and Carole GRUNDISH and Daniele DODEAN MONTEIRO and XIAN Yiafang.
In previous round Romania beat Austria. After defeats against Andrea TODOROVIC of Serbia in first round and then Sofia POLCANOVA SAMARA finally felt her game improved. She overcame LIU Jia to regain her self confidence.
“I broke the ice finally. It was very difficult for me to play yesterday. I lost against Serbia’s Andrea TODOROVIC because I have never played against her. She got nothing to lose she risked a lot and on the other hand I was under great pressure. I knew I had to win that one. Now I recovered I am in the winning tracks again. I am not so happy with my game against Sofia POLCANOVA but against LIU Jia in the third game at 1:1 I finally settled in the right rhythm.”
Austria beat France and Serbia.
The back bone of their success in the third round victory over Serbia was Sofia POLCANOVA. She overcame Andrea TODODROVIC and Gabriela FEHER. Like in earlier rounds Serbia lost but not without causing minor upset. This time it was Anamarija ERDELJI who succeeded against LI Qianbing.
