European Under 21 Championships
The best ranked player in Europe last month Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania successfully concluded the day two at the competition in Singles at the European Under 21 Championships in Varazdin.
DRAGOMAN overcame Katarzyna WEGRZYN of Poland in six games (10:12 11:5 11:6 10:12 11:9 11:5). In the same Group Slomiya BRATEYKO of Ukraine overcame Leili MOSTAFAVI of France by same margin (6:11 9:11 11:6 11:5 11:7 11:7). In the second match Andreea beat BRATEYKO (11:4 11:6 11:3 11:6) whilst WEGRZYN beat MOSTAFAVI (11:5 7:11 11:8 11:8 6:11 11:8).
Title holder Adina DIACONU of Romania is well known as a slow starter so she needed one game today to get into the gear before she overcame Julia SLAZAK of Poland (8:11 11:4 11:3 11:8 13:11) but she was much more convincing in the next round against Olga VISHNIAKOVA of Russia (11:9 11:6 11:5 11:7).
“It is true I need some time to adjust to conditions in the venue. This time was even harder it took some time before I settle into the right rhythm; I struggled to adjust my game to the new balls ” said DIACONU.
Olga VISHNIAKOVA overcame Alksandra VOVK of Slovenia (9:11 11:3 14:12 7:11 11:8 11:3) and VOVK suffered in the match against SLZAK as well.
In Group C Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia justified her status and beat Tania PLAIAN of Romania in the opening match in the Singles (11:6 3:11 11:9 11:5 13:11.
“I did not used to play with this balls so it was very difficult for me. Now after this win I feel much better. I came here to win the medal and I hope I will do it. At the Russia’s Championships I played in the quarterfinal; I am not happy with that I did not win the medal but I am happy with my game. I am in good shape ” said last year’s runner up TAILAKOVA.
However she failed to produce victory in next round against Prithika PAVADE of France (11:9 6:11 9:11 5:11 11:13). PAVADE needed only four games to overcame Orsolya FEHER of Hungary (11:8 11:9 11:6 11:8) in the opening round.
In the opening match of the second day of play in the Women’s Singles Christina KALLBERG of Sweden create a biggest upset of the round by beating Europe’s no. four player at the rankings Lisa LUNG of Belgium (4:11 8:11 9:11 11:6 11:8 7:11).
“I had a tough day yesterday and today I feel much better when I reached the second round of the qualifications. I never have beat Lisa before and this is very important victory for me ” said KALLBERG.
She continued in winning pace and overcame Natalia GRIGELOVA of Slovakia (11:7 11:4 11:7 11:9). Kristina KAZANTSEVA of Russia overcame Natalia GRIGELOVA (11:9 11:6 11:1 6:11 11:9) and lost to Lisa LUNG.
“I started good and the game developed in the good direction maybe too good. When I won the third game 11:1 I thought I could not lose until the end. I was wrong. I lost the fourth game and it took me a lot of effort to come back in next ” said KAZANTSEVA about the match against GRIGELOVA.
Tatiana KUKULKOVA of Slovakia overcame Katarina STRAZAR of Slovenia (11:3 11:6 7:11 11:5 11:8) and Andrea PAVLOVIC continued with good matches in the same Group. Croatia’s only representative in singles overcame Gabriela STEPANOVA of Czech Republic (12:10 11:4 11:5 11:2). She also beat KUKULKOVA in straight games (10:12 6:11 8:11 9:11) to secure the passage to the Round of 16 tomorrow.
Russia’s Anastasia KOLISH suffered by the hands of Romania’s Elena ZAHARIA (11:8 9:11 6:11 11:4 13:11 3:11 9:11). The bad run for top seeds in their respective Groups continued with the defeat of Ana TOFANT of Slovenia who lost to Ema LOBOSOVA of Slovakia (6:11 8:11 11:8 8:11 7:11) and Ana GARCIA of Spain who lost to Camille LUTZ of France (5:11 8:11 6:11 2:11).
Results here
General information here
Official site here
