2018 STAG European Youth Championships
Top seeded team in the Cadet Boys Event at the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships France booked the place in the quarterfinal in Cluj Napoca. Tomorrow they will play against Slovakia. It was the same scenario in Cadet Girls Teams Event. Russia showed no mercy in their match against Turkey. They will meet Moldova.
France need four matches to overcame Spain.
“We knew that it will be a hard game against Spanish team which has really good players. The doubles were the decisive one. We had a very tough match in the qualifications against Germany and another one now against Spain and we survived. My players know that all the games will be complicated ” said Emmanuel RACHEZ French coach.
Belgium inflicted the pain in host nation supporters. They overcame Romania in straight matches.
“It was amazing. I am proud of my team and what we did today. We opened the match very fast we were very confident. The boys are just worming up and I am sure there is more top come from them ” said Louis LAFFINEUR.
Belgium will meet Ukraine the team that eliminate Hungary. Russia progressed after victory over Sweden.
“It was a great match not so easy but we won it with 3-0. Vladislav MAKAROV gave us a good start so it was easer for me and after 2:0 we had even less pressure in doubles. We are confident for the next round and we think we can win this competition ” said Denis IZUMRUDOV.
They will meet Croatia. In Croatia’s team Ivor BAN was the back bone of the success against Portugal. He won bot his singles matches. Poland will play against Germany.
Russia’s Elizabet ABRAAMIAN and Arina SLAUTINA with Ljubov TENTSER needed only three matches to secure safe passage to the quarterfinal but their next adversaries Moldova did not waste their energy neither. They prevailed against against Belarus by same margin.
Serbia’s team overcame Italy in straight matches. Reka BEZEG and Radmila TOMINJAK proved too strong for Nicole ARLIA and Gaia SMARGIASSI. Lithuania followed their path with 3:0 victory over Croatia.
“We are so happy after this match. I played against Hana ARAPOVIC and it was a hard match because she is good with the backhand and I sometimes only push without a spin ” said Kornelija RILISKYTE.
EMILIJA ADDED: “I played against LONCAREVIC and I was confident and I had control since the start of the game but a bit confused at the end of the match. We want to play good game tomorrow to focus on what we do be confident and just play point after point not to care for what happens after the game.”
Host nation secured one more quarterfinal with the victory over Ukraine.
“Luciana MITROFAN Iolanta YEVTODII who was very aggressive but she managed to win. My game was a bit difficult because Alina VYDRUCHENKO was having material on the backhand and it gave me some problems. We are very happy for the win happy that that we reached the round of 8. We are very happy to play at home we were very nervous in the beginning of the competition but now we got used to it ” said Elena ZAHARIA.
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