2020 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
The winner of the 2019 edition of the Women’s Event Petrissa SOLJA is no. three seed at the 2020 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup to be held on 8th and 9th February in Swiss town Montreux. Germany’s star played five times so far at the Event and she also has two silver medals in 2015 in Baku and in 2017 in French Juan-Les-Pins Antibes.
SOLJA is looking forward event in Switzerland but her season starts little bit earlier.
“I had a good time during break; I spent the holidays with my family and friends. Also I had few matches with my club TSV Langstadt and now I am preparing for German Open for the end of the January. German open are always nice to play. It is great atmosphere there ” said SOLJA.
In Montreux top seeds are Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania. Below SOLJA at the list are: her compatriot HAN Ying Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden Margaryta PESOTSKA of Ukraine Georgina POTA of Hungary NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg Britt EERLAND of Netherlands Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia Natalia PARTYKA OF Poland Dora MADARASZ of Hungary Yana NOSKOVA of Russia and host nation representative Rachel MORET.
SOLJA stayed secretly about the odds for the winner.
“Only the strongest players in Europe will compete at Top 16 everybody can win. If I catch a good weekend then I can go far.”
Petrissa already proved it by winning the title last year. In 2019 SOLJA came back from 3 games down to win gold against Bernadette SZOCS
“I am looking forward to be back in Montreux It’s a beautiful city with great memories. The best of all is of course winning the title but I also remember how I had to give the interview straight after the final victory. I was crying whole the time; could not stop.”
Can you compare Top 16 with other tournaments?
“It gives me mixed feelings. Top 16 is similar to others because it is knock out and I have to be in shape from the very first moment. However it is different from other because top 16 is only once a year. You only have one chance to achieve something big.”
Does it put you under extra pressure?
“I never felt fear but I am still nervous before the matches. However it is a good sign the tension helps me play better.”
Solja won silver in the team event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. In 2017 Solja alongside Fang BO won bronze in the mixed doubles at the World Championships in Düsseldorf. This was the first World Championship medal in mixed doubles for Germany since 1971.
