2018 BELGOSSTRAKH European Under 21 Championships
Top seeded player in the Men’s Singles Event at the 2018 BELGOSSTRAKH European Under 21 Championships Tomas POLANSKY of Czech Republic had a safe start of the competition day in Minsk.
On his first coming to the table POLANSKY overcame Thomas GRININGER of Germany (11:2 11:7 11:6 13:11). In the same Group Artur ABUSEV of Russia created the upset by beating Tom JARVIS of England (6:11 4:11 6:11 12:10 7;11).
“ I had some difficulties yesterday. In the previous match it was no sooner that I started leading when I realized I could win. Today I feel much more focused and prepared. Jarvis has played the majority of games with defenders. I am a defender too so I knew what he could bring up. I started leading at the beginning and kept this mood till the end of the game ” said ABUSEV.
Darko JORGIC of Slovenia no. two seed faced serious pressure in the match against Tomasz KOTOWSKI of Czech Republic (7:11 11:2 11:4 11:5 5:11 8:11 11:5) but prevailed after the fierce battle.
“ It is my first match so I am probably not in the nest shape I hope it will get better in the upcoming games. I have played against KOTOWSKI many times before and I lost some of those matches against him. The last set was nervous for me I had to push to the table and just make points one by one ” explained JORGIC.
In the same Group Stanislav KUCERA of Czech Republic beat the odds and overcame Dennis KLEIN of Germany (8:11 9:11 7:11 8:11).
“I felt comfortable in this game. I beat KLEIN last time we meet. He’s not so good with defense while I was safe and made no mistakes. At some moments I changed the direction of my spins which confused him and helped me scored 3-4 extra points in every game ” said KUCERA.
Andreas LEVENKO of Austria avenged his last year’s defeat at the European U 21 Championships in Sochi against Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece (11:9 4:11 11:8 14:12 10:12 11:9).
“The match was tricky. I’ve played against him a couple of times before but I feel like I still need to heat up my play in this tournament. My strategy for this match was to be safe no surprises today ” said LEVENKO.
In the same Group Jiri MARTINKO of Czech Republic beat Ibrahim GUNDUZ of Turkey (12:10 12:10 11:8 11:6).
“I won two first games by narrow margin which was very important for me. After that I saw clearly that MARTINKO was under great pressure whereas I did well and implied my tactics. Everything was done neatly ” said MARTINKO.
Cristian PLETEA of Romania needed five games to overcame Luka MLADENOVIC of Luxembourg (11:5 11:3 10:12 11:5 11:5).
“I saw how MLADENOVIC played yesterday so I knew what to expect. Still his play style is strange he is a good athlete. He performs nice spins in forehand which gave me the idea of how to withstand him and I was focused on the match from the very first point. I am a bit scared of what is to be next but I will do my best at this tournament ” said PLETEA.
Bence MAJAROS of Hungary was first in line of top seeded players to suffer. He lost against Vladimir SIDORENKO of Russia (9:11 9:11 11:7 11:8 11:7 8:11 6:11). Aliaksandr KHANIN of Belarus was the next. He lost against Konstantin CHERNOV of Russia (6:11 11:5 14:16 9:11 15:13 8:11).
“Alexander and I know each other pretty well so we both knew it will not be an easy game. I won the first game quite decisively but it was harder to make the lead in the rest of the match. I mainly performed short shots through the right that’s my technique ” explained CHERNOV.
In the same Group another upset came from Csaba ANDRAS from Hungary. He overcame Denik KOZUL of Slovenia (9:11 8:11 3:11 8:11). “I am happy with how it all went. I think my rival was nervous he made mistakes and I had the right tactics. I played backhand with spins. In the last set nervousness came but I finished the game successful.”
Andrei PUTUNTICA of Moldova overcame Aleksandr LUSIN of Estonia (11:4 11:8 11:2 5:11 11:9) : “I felt good in this match it wasn’t anything extraordinary that I had to perform to win. I know LUSIN just as well as he knows me he does great in defense.”
Patryk ZATOWKA of Poland overcame Abdullah YINGLER of Turkey (12:10 7:11 1:11 12:10 11:5 11:6). Rares SIPOS of Romania prevailed against Konstantinos ANGELAKIS of Greece (11:7 5:11 7:11 11:9 11:2 11:8).
“I did not expect to win because few weeks ago I was ill. I did not play anything recently in order to recover as much as I can for this Championships. I only played at the Romanian National Championships ” explained SIPOS.
Anders LIND of Denmark accounted for Marek BADOWSKI of Poland (11:8 9:11 7:11 11:5 5:11 11:9 11:9).
“I had not the best feeling concerning this game and it turned out to be very hard indeed. My tactics was perfect but I couldn’t help missing key shots. I’ve played with BADOWSKI two times before this encounter and I won once only ” summarized LIND.
Tobias HIPPLER of Germany overcame Maicej KOLODZIEJCZYK of Austria (11:9 5:11 11:5 11:7 11:5).
“Actually yesterday’s match with BADOWSKI was more difficult for me than today’s one. I played against KOLODZIEJCZYK in Juniors so I knew what to expect. Also it’s much easier to win when you lead-the adversary becomes under stress and it’s harder to play ” explained HIPPLER.
