LIEBHERR 2018 ITTF European Championships
One of the most colorful characters in table tennis Dane Michael MAZE is back in action at the LIEBHERR 2018 ITTF European Championships. He concluded the Group phase of the competition at the position no. two at the standings with defeat against Tomas TREGELER of Czech Republic in seven games and victories over Deni KOZUL of Slovenia and Tomasz KOTOWSKI of Poland.
Being required to play at the qualifications for the European champion in singles from 2009 and in Team’s 2005 bronze medalists from the Olympics in Doubles 2004 and in singles at the Worlds in 2005 is not the role he is well adjusted. However he still finds the motive to enjoy the game.
“It has been a while since I played the best of seven matches. It has been a while since I play at the tournament at all. After Olympic Games 2012 I did not have proper competition. You can not compare trainings and competitions. Here at the beginning I had three match balls against TREGLER but I lost. Now I am second in the Group and I have to wait to see would I be lucky loser ” said MAZE.
He admitted he feels good and having learned from the bitter experience of coming back so many times from injuries added that he will go just one step in the time.
“It is not the result that is primary for me. I am trying to enjoy. So many things changed. The different ball created completely new face of the game. Now we have so many players with very similar high level of play. They are all fit and they all have good spins. On the other side there are not so many players on the highest level. I miss that. I miss old times ” said MAZE.
