LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships
No. one seeds team of Germany proved to strong for Sweden in the third round of the Men’s Event at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships but England stayed in the winning course by beating Japan.
Patrick FRANZISKA put Kristian KARLSSON on severe pressure in the opening match and forced Patrick to go full distance but after FRANZISKA sealed the match – 11:2 in the last game it became a one-way track for the Germans.
“We know each other very well. I think we played six times in the last seven months. It is always tough against him but I tried to stay focus play my game and I’m happy that I won ” said FRANZISKA.
Timo BOLL beat Mattias KARLSSON in straight games concluded each 11:8. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV needed one more to overcame Anton KALLBERG.
“We have a great team and we are motivated to go far in the tournament. Sweden is a key opponent so we are very focused. Mattias is a very unusual player on the tour; you don’t have often the chance to play against this style. The fact that we played many times last year was maybe a small advantage for me. Against him it is all about little things little placements. I think I did a great job ” stated BOLL.
OVTCHAROV :“The last three sets were very close. It was a tough match but I am satisfied of my performance especially because I had a long break due to an injury. So I am very pleased I could win against Anton. Of course we want to win the gold medal we are very determined. Timo and I had an extraordinary good run at the end of the past year and now also Patrick is playing very well. Unfortunately I got injured but the good think is that it is a long tournament and I feel that I’m playing better and better at every match. I hope I can get my pic at the end of the tournament.”
England continued to make upsets at the Championships. Next in line to fall was Japan seeded at the position no. three at the Championships. Seeded no. 12 team of England avenged the defeats to Japan in the semi-finals of the last edition of World Championships and at the ITTF Team World Cup in London in February.
It started well for Japan. World’s no 11 Jun MIZUTANI beat best ranked player in England’s team Paul DRINKHALL ranked at the position no 52. They went full distance before pendulum has swung. Liam PITCHFORD overcame Tomokazu HARIMOTO in straight games. Next in line was Sam WALKER who posted sensational victory over World’s no 11 Koki NIWA. He also needed only three games before MIZUTANI played another five games thriller. However this time he lost it to PICHFORD.
Title holders China beat Brazil in straight matches and same score line was after the duel Austria vs. France. After defeats against Croatia and Republic of Korea Austria is back in game. Stefan FEGERL beat Emmanuel LEBESSON Daniel HABESOHN overcame Simon GAUZY whilst Robert GARDOS prevailed against Can AKKUZU. They lost only one game in the process.
Portugal lost against Brazil earlier this morning but against Russia they showed no weak points. Belarus led by Vladimir SAMSONOV overcame Singapore also in straight games.
