We have another incredible night behind us at the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Houston where 9 players from Europe Reached the Round of 16 in the Men’s and Women’s Singles. There are 7 men and 2 women who will fight for their place in the quarterfinal tonight.
One of two remaining European players in Women’s Singles Event is Bernadette SZOCS of Romania who eliminated no. 11 seed JEON Jihee of Korea 2:4 (11:13 9:11 11:3 9:11 11:5 9:11).
“JEON is one of the best player in the World and to beat her at World Championships is something of dream come true. I am so happy that I won this match. I spent so many effort time and dedication to this. I was well prepared and I had various tactics in my head to be sure I will succeed. I still can not believe I am among the top 16 players in the World I am speechless. One thing is for sure hard work pays off ” said SZOCS.
In the next round she will play against no. 6 see Kasumi ISHIKAWA of Japan.
‘We met before and I lost in very close duel. I think I can make very good match against her and if I manage to rise my game to level I reached in Round of 32 I can certainly win ” said SZOCZ who also play for the place in the quarterfinal with Ionescu OVIDIU.”We are both in perfect shape I am positive that we can reach best of 8.”
French player Jia Nan YUAN will also play in the Round of 16 after success against Taipei’s LIU Hsing-Yin after success in straight games (11:7 11:8 13:11 11:4). In Round of 16 she will meet WANG Manyu of China.
In men’s Singles event Liam PITCHFORD reached the last 16 of the World Championships after seeing off Jonathan GROTH in six pulsating games (11:13 13:11 11:7 11:7 7:11 11:9). PITCHFORD and the Dane are good friends having shared a training base in Copenhagen and even if that were not the case the Englishman would have been well aware of the threat posed by the left-handed world No 33.
In the next round he will meet China’s LIANG Jingkun the sixth seed who overcame Benedikt DUDA of Germany last night.
Liam PITCHFORD and Paul DRINKHALL beat Nikhil KUMAR and KAI Zhang of USA 3:1 (11:4 8:11 19:17 11:5) in the round of 32 in Doubles.
Germany’s Timo BOLL progressed to the Round of 16 after victory over 19-years old PANG Yew En Koen of Singapore in four express games (11:4 11:7 11:5 11:5).
“I haven’t often started a game at eleven o’clock in the evening ” said BOLL about his late night schedule. “I got in well and played a in a various rhythm than he is perhaps used to against younger players a little more delayed better placed – on the other hand he had massive problems.”
In the round of the best 16 Timo Boll will meet the Slovak defense specialist WANG Yang who had previously eliminated France’s top man Simon Gauzy 4:2 (7:11 11:13 11:9 11:7 11:9 11:9).
Ruwen FILUS will join his teammate after third 4:0 win in Houston. This time it was Jakub DYJAS of Poland who suffered by his hands.
“ It’s been 4-0 for me three times at this World Cup but it’s still a long tournament and the tension and the heat is there all the time. You notice that ”said the 33-year-old who has been one of the best modern defenders in the world for years who will meet American hope Kanak Jha.
It is possible that two Germans meets in the quarters.
“I could live very well with a Hessian quarter-final ” said Timo Boll. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for Ruwen. He’s played very well so far. Besides it would be a nice thing to definitely have a German in the semifinals.”
Swede Kristian KARLSSON overcame Alexandre CASSIN of France. He could also face his temmate Truls MOREGARD in the quarterfinal. MOREGARD beat Patrick FRANZISKA of Germany in seven gruelling games and now he will meet LIM Jonghoon of Korea. KARLSSON will play against Quadri ARUNA of Nigeria in the next round. Darko JORGIC prevailed against Kirill SKACHKOV of Russia.
