The major upset on day 4 of the ITTF World Team Championships in South Korea was created by Croatia as the team defeated France in straight matches.
In Group 8 France remains at the top of the standings but there is still one round of play remaining for Egypt and Croatia the teams with two wins out of three matches.
Today Hana ARAPOVIC (156) paved the path to success with a win over Prithika PAVADE (33) before Lea RAKOVAC who is ranked only at position no. 231 in the world defeated the world’s no. 19 Jia Nan YUAN. Mateja JEGER prevailed against Charlotte LUTZ.
“Everyone played at their best ” said coach Dragutin ŠURBEK. “Hana was phenomenal she swept PAVADE away. It’s evident in this tournament that she has progressed a lot. Lea rose up after defeating MATELOVA and it was easier for her to play after Hana defeated PAVADE. It was clear that the French girls were a bit scared after that match. Lea imposed her game against a player who recently won the Top 16. A phenomenal tactical match. Mateja didn’t have it easy to play she had the match in her hands. She was tense in the first set but later played tactically mature. It’s not easy to finish like that but she was brave. In my opinion this French team is among the top three European teams behind Romania and Germany. As for the last match I think the same as the previous days. The Egyptians are favorites in that match but they are not unbeatable.”
In Group 2 Luxembourg posted their first victory after 3 matches. Sarah DE NUTTE Xia Lian NI and Tessy GONDERINGER beat Iran 3-1. Only Neda SHAHSAVARI managed to beat GONDERINGER.
In Group 7 Romania concluded the first phase unbeaten. In the fourth match Bernadette SZOCS Andreea DRAGOMAN and Elena ZAHARIA overcame team Serbia presented by Tijana JOKIC Sabina SURJAN and Izabela LUPULESKU.
“In the end it’s important that we won. I won all my matches and I am proud of my team for winning all the matches in the group. Now we are waiting to see who we will play next. I was a little bit angry with myself because I didn’t play as I wanted and didn’t execute what I’ve been practicing. This made me a little bit frustrated because I wanted to execute what I’ve been practicing. However what matters in the end is that I won and I will focus on the next matches to ensure I don’t make the same mistakes ” said SZOCS.
Andreea DRAGOMAN :”Tomorrow maybe we will rest a little bit. Of course we will also practice because the tournament is not over yet. So we will practice and wait to see who we will play against.”
In Group 3 Germany secured the top spot with a victory over Slovakia and Poland beat Mexico. While Germany is safe at the top Slovakia and Poland will decide who will be second after their duel against Mexico and Nigeria tomorrow.
Seventeen-year-old Annett Kaufmann opened the match with a four-set victory over world No. 209 Ema LABOSOVA. Nina MITTELHAM then left no chance for 19-year-old Adriana ILLASOVA. The Berlin Bundesliga teammate Xiaona SHAN concluded with a victory. The 2022 European bronze medalist defeated the current top-ranked Slovakian player Tatiana KUKULKOVA in three games.
“Advancing to the round of 16 was our first goal. We are now ready for the knockout stage ” said coach BOROS. “I am very satisfied with my team. The girls are playing better and better every day. After the day off tomorrow we will be well prepared for the second part of this World Championships.”
The leading player and European Championship singles finalist in the German ranks echoed these sentiments.
“We managed the group well and won relatively solidly ” said Nina MITTELHAM. “We started with the toughest game on Friday and fought our way through. Now we look forward to the day off tomorrow and await the draw with anticipation.”
The Slovak team’s top player 31-year-old Barbora BALAZOVA sat on the bench against Germany with minor foot problems. Even in the case of a victory her team could no longer have finished first in the group.
