Croatia Open: NI Xialian inspired by Zagreb

April 13, 2018
10:34 pm
Member Associations

Luxembourg`s player gold medalist at the 2002 ITTF European Championships secures her place in the Women`s Singles semi-finals

Sixteen years after her gold medal at the 2002 ITTF European Championships 54-year-old NI Xialian proves that she likes to play in the city of Zagreb reaching semi-finals of the Women`s Singles event at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Croatia Open. Luxembourg`s player beat two strong opponents today April 13th to set up her clash against 2015 European champion Elizabeta Samara. First she beat actual ITTF-Europe Top 16 winner Bernadette SZOCS in straight games then she overcame Russia`s Polina MIKHAILOVA.

Four representatives of Old Continent will play in the Men`s Singles semi-finals two top seeds from Germany Ricardo WALTHER (no. 1) and Benedikt DUDA (no. 2) France`s Can AKKUZU and Greece`s Panagiotis GIONIS. WALTHER and DUDA beat Mizuki OIKAWA and Kenji MATSUDAIRA respectively in the two Germany-Japan clashes. One of most thrilling matches was one between AKKUZU and Finland`s Benedek OLAH decided after full seven games.

Men`s Singles quarter-finals

Ricardo WALTHER (GER) – Mizuki OIKAWA (JPN) 4:1 (11:7 11:6 6:11 11:8 11:7)

Can AKKUZU (FRA) – Benedek OLAH (FIN) 4:3 (8:11 11:6 8:11 11:8 9:11 11:9 11:9)

Panagiotis GIONIS (GRE) – Mohamed EL-BEIALI (EGY) 4:2 (11:8 8:11 9:11 11:3 12:10 11:4)

Benedikt DUDA (GER) – Kenji MATSUDAIRA (JPN) 4:3 (7:11 7:11 6:11 11:6 11:7 11:6 11:6)

Women`s Singles quarter-finals

Hitomi SATO (JPN) – Maki SHIOMI (JPN) 4:3 (8:11 11:2 11:6 9:11 11:8 7:11 11:8)

Saki SHIBATA (JPN) – Honoka HASHIMOTO (JPN) 4:2 (9:11 11:9 11:4 11:2 6:11 11:5)

Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) – Georgina POTA (HUN) 4:2 (5:11 11:6 7:11 11:7 14:12 11:8)

NI Xia Lian (LUX) – Polina MIKHAILOVA (RUS) 4:3 (11:8 10:12 11:4 3:11 11:7 10:12 11:9)

Men`s Doubles semi-finals

Nandor ECSEKI (HUN) / Adam SZUDI (HUN) – Andrea LANDRIEU (FRA) / Romain LORENTZ (FRA) 3:1 (11:7 3:11 11:9 11:5)

PENG Wang-Wei (TPE) / SUN Chia-Hung (TPE) – Benedikt DUDA (GER) / Ricardo WALTHER (GER) 3:1 (9:11 11:4 11:9 11:6)

Women`s Doubles semi-finals

Honoka HASHIMOTO (JPN) / Hitomi SATO (JPN) – Barbora BALAZOVA (SVK) / Hana MATELOVA (CZE) 3:0 (11:8 11:9 11:8)

Mirela DURAK (CRO) / Mateja JEGER (CRO) – Matilda EKHOLM (SWE) / Georgina POTA (HUN) 3:1 (8:11 11:2 11:8 11:7)

El Niňo Praha face familiar rival in Europe Cup semi-final

Czech clubs remain firmly in the race for silverware in the ETTU Europe Cup, with last year’s runner up SF SKK El Niňo Praha now just one step away from...

Hodonín face tough challenge against Cagliari in Europe Cup Women semi-final

After reaching last season’s final, SKST Plus Hodonín are back in the semi-finals of the ETTU Europe Cup Women – and once again dreaming of going all the way. This...

A new look for ETTU Champions League

ETTU is proud to present a new visual identity for the Champions League Men and Women heading into the 2026/27 season, marking an important step in the evolution of the...

Lille ready to fight for the final: “It will come down to courage, tactics and the will to win”

There is a growing sense of belief inside Lille Métropole TT as they prepare for the opening leg of the ETTU Europe Cup Men semi-final against Real Club Cajasur Priego...