STAG 2017 European Youth Championships
Newly crowned champions at the Junior Mixed Doubles Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships are Jules ROLLAND and Lucie GAUTHIER of France. In the final they overcame Denis IVONIN and Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia. Bronze medalist are Nikita ARTEMENKO and Anna KRASIKOVA of Russia and Cristian PLETEA and Adina DIACONU of Romania
French pairings were 2:1 in reverse before they recovered to level.
“It was very close match. We faced three match balls in the decisive game but I think we were stronger mentally. We believed more that we could win ” said ROLLAND.
Jules ROLLAND Lucie GAUTHIER faced no problems in the penultimate stage of the Event. Russia’s Nikita ARTEMENKO and Anna KRASIKOVA failed to put any pressure on their adversaries.
“We wanted to win the opening game because in the matches of best of five it is very important. After the opening game our adversaries were mentally down. We also wanted to prevent ARTEMENKO of playing on his forehand. We won many points on receive service game ” said Jules ROLLAND.
In other match of the semi final Denis IVONIN and Mariia TAILAKOVA beat Cristian PLETEA and Adina DIACONU the winners of the title in Mixed Doubles as cadets in 2014.
“It was not an easy game as the results predicts. We try to halt Adina’s attempt to use the forehand and against PLETEA we played soft balls on his backhand. We did a lot of variation in service game down or no spin service ” said TAILAKOVA.
Last years champions KHANIN and TRIGOLOS were not on duty in Portugal. KHANIN is no longer junior so TROGOLOS played with Greece’s SGOUROPOULOS and reached the Round of 32.
Semi final
Cristian PLETEA Adina DIACONU (Romania)- Denis IVONIN Mariia TAILAKOVA (Russia) 0:3 (9:11 8:11 8:11)
Nikita ARTEMENKO Anna KRASIKOVA (Russia) – Jules ROLLAND Lucie GAUTHIER (France) 0:3 (6:11 2:11 6:11)
Final
Denis IVONIN Mariia TAILAKOVA (Russia) -Jules ROLLAND Lucie GAUTHIER (France) 2:3 (4:11 11:7 11:9 12:14 9:11)
