Manager of French club Jean-Louis POLARD comments ECLW Round 3
After first two games in the 2018/19 ECLW TT Saint-Quentinois has 0-2 win-loss record but they were very close to the victory playing Round 3 game in Lisbon. Sporting won 3:2 after crucial win of Zhenqi APOLONIA-BARTHEL against former European bronze medalist Polina MIKHAILOVA. Russian player lost by a narrow margin after full five games.
“Big disappointment for TT Saint-Quentin as the team lost 2:3 in Lisbon against Sporting Clube de Portugal” stated manager of French club Jean-Louis POLARD. “Although the three home players are very skilled and well-known as they all played in the French PRO League their guests were ready to fight. Canadian ZHANG Mo won twice against TTSQ former player Daniela MONTEIRO-DODEAN and against 2013 European Champion LI Fen and Aurore LE MANSEC did her best too and grabbed one set. Unfortunately the key problem is new player Polina MIKHAILOVA who lost 9/11 in the 5th set against German Zhenqi APOLONIA-BARTHEL. The Russian player hasn’t won a match yet for Saint-Quentin neither in ECLW competition nor in the French PRO League. Can 2015 European bronze medalist recover soon and play as expected? The answer in November!”
Saint-Quentin will play last two Group C games in late November against Linz AG Froschberg (away Nov 25th) and Sporting Clube de Portugal (home Nov 30th).