LIEBHERR 2019 European Championships
Russia beat Croatia 3-0 but both Polina MIKHAILOVA against Ivana TUBIKANEC and Yana NOSKOVA vs. Ivana MALOBABIC were forced to go full distance. Mariia TAILAKOVA overcame Mateja JEGER in four games.
“It is normal for the first match at the tournament. We needed the time to feel the venue and to settle intro the rhythm ” explained Polina MIKHAILOVA. “Against TUBIKANEC I made too much mistakes and that gave her possibility to make 2-0 at the beginning. Also she delivered the kind of performance I did not expect. It was unusual.”
Fierce battles highlighted the last round of the day one at the LIEBHERR European Championships. In Women’s Singles Event Italy beat Slovenia Russia beat Croatia whilst in Men’s Event Russia beat Czech Republic and Denmark overcame Ukraine.
Italy prevailed against Slovenia 3-1. Debora VIVARELLI was at the top of her game and overcame Aleksandra VOVK and Katarina STRAZAR. Katarina overcame Giorgia PICCOLIN and young Jamila LAURENTI accounted for Lea PAULIN. Alex GALIC was not in the Slovenia’s team due the injury.
“All the games we were playing were close. Last time in Sweden we beat them but it was 3-2 “ said VIVARELLI. “ In the first match I was focused and I easily prevailed but in the second against STRAZAR she had 2-0 advantage. However I felt that I need to adjust only small things. I did not lose the confidence and I recovered to level. In the decisive game she come back to 8-7. I was brave played with courage and won at the end.”
They will need to show the brave face in the next Round as well. They are going to play against Germany.
“Romania is title holder but I think that Germany has more powerful team here. I am not sure would it be possible to win the match against them but certainly we will try. Anyway we will enjoy that game to the maximum. We have nothing to lose.”
Russia also prevailed in Men’s Team’s Event. They overcame Czech Republic 3-1. Alexander SHIBAEV overcame Lubomir JANCARIK and Pavel SIRUCEK Vladimir SIDORENKO overcame Tomas POLANSKY whilst Kirill SKACHKOV lost to Pavel SIRUCEK.
“I always give 100%. Today I didn’t want to lose a game. It’s important for me to win 3-0 when I can. I felt really good. I did not make a lot mistakes. I think we can do better than today for the next match against Germany ” said SHIBAEV.
Denmark beat Ukraine 3-1. Jonathan GROTH recorded both wins; he overcame Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO and Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA. Tobias RASMUSEN overcame Viktor YEFIMOV. PRYSHCHEPA accounted for Anders LIND.
“As the game advanced we became better especially in the close situations. We were better in tactics. We analyzed game better ” said GROTH. “Next match is against Austria. They are strong but we can make it.”
