LIEBHERR 2019 European Championships
Croatia beat Netherlands in straight matches leaving no space for Dutch team to produce any upset. Tomislav PUCAR Andrej GACINA and Frane KOJIC overcame Rajko GOMMERS Laurens TROMER and Ewout OOSTWOUDER.
“We knew they are capable of producing upset so we were well prepared. We do not know this team well and we were not sure about their line-up but it did not change anything. We were ready for each of them ” said Andrej GACINA.
In next match they will meet Slovenia.
“We know that team very well. We spent so many time with them on preparations before the big events and also I was with them on club’s trainings in Germany. That will be very hard match but we are ready and I think the chances are even ” said Tomislav PUCAR.
It is Dana CECHOVA’s birthday today and her wish was to beat Serbia and to won her singles match. Only half of it came true. Czech Republic prevailed in four matches but Andrea TODOROVIC spoiled the birthday “party”. Hana MATELOVA proved too strong for TODOROVIC and Sabina SURJAN whilst Karin ADAMKMOVA beat Izabela LUPULESKU.
“I think at first my opponent didn’t expect my rhythm of my game. She also didn’t really know how to react to my services. But with each rally she became better and also knew how to react to what I was playing. Tomorrow we are free. We will watch the match Serbia versus Netherlands. I think it will be a really hard game ” said Hana MATELOVA.
The duels of teams seeded at the positions two and three in their respective groups at the LEBHERR European Championships produced only one surprise in third round of the play at the opening day in Nantes. In Women’s Teams Event Belgium overcame Belarus 3-1 whilst Czech Republic overcame Serbia. In Men’s Teams Event England overcame Luxembourg and Croatia beat Netherlands.
England started their journey in Nantes in unfamiliar style without Liam PITCHFORD in line up against Luxembourg. Paul DRINKHALL overcame Eric GLOD Samuel WALKER prevailed against Gilles MICHELY before Tom JARVIS got his chance. He faced player with very dangerous style of play Luka MLADENOVIC and duel between two Under 21 players went to Luka’s account. Then WALKER was 2-1 down against GLOD and situation started to look similar to one at the European Championships in Luxembourg two years ago when England without PICHFORD and DRINKHALL has lost to Netherlands.
“We needed two years to recover from that but we avoided similar scenario this time. MLADENOVIC has very specific style and despite defeat I am sure Tom will recover easily. Liam just came from Japan and struggled with jet leg so we had to give him time to recover ” said WALKER who eventually overcame GLOD in five games.
Belgium overcame Belarus in four matches. Lisa LUNG Margo DEGRAEF and Nathalie MARCHETTI prevailed against Alina NIKITCHANKA Daria TRIGOLOS and Nadezhda BOGDANOVA. Lisa won both her matches whilst BOGDANOVA brought the only point to her team after the duel against MARCHETTI.
“It was my first match at the European Championships. With the each rally I became more confident. We all gave our best to win. My two matches are very difficult but I was better in close finishes. The next match against Hungary it will be hard. Last time we lost but we hope to win this time ” said Lisa LUNG.
