Robin DEVOS was the highest ranked Belgian player on duty during the Men’s Qualifications. He did not start good, but was still able to win his group. During his morning match, he barely escaped against Henrik JOHANSSON from Sweden (14-12 in the sev,
Robin DEVOS was the highest ranked Belgian player on duty during the Men’s Qualifications. He did not start good, but was still able to win his group. During his morning match, he barely escaped against Henrik JOHANSSON from Sweden (14-12 in the seventh), while he had much less problems with the number two of his group, French Can AKKUZU.
“I just started studies of Law at the University and found it difficult to enter the tournament. I was only able to get my head clear before my match against AKKUZU. On the other hand, I have been training on some new stuff, which I tried in my first two matches here in Antwerp. Against the French, I played more secure with my ‘old-style’.”
At 3-0 and 10-6, things looked bright for Robin, but it wasn’t that easy. “At that point in the match, I lost my concentration. I really have to focus on that, as it happens too much in my games. “
At 10-9 he even served into the net. What where his thoughts after that crucial point?
“The next ball”, he said without a doubt and explains himself further: “Whether you lose a point by serving, or at any other time in the match, you just lost that point and have to win the next.”In the end all went well and Robin claimed victory in four sets.
Local talent DEVOS does not have a favourite to encounter in the main draw: “If you want to win the tournament, you have to win them all.” Unfortunately DEVOS lost his first round encounter against Romain LORENTZ in the men’s singles event. French player succeeded in straight games to join his compatriots Enzo ANGLES, Thomas LE BRETON, Quentin ROBINOT … However it was not that bad day for host nation players. Yannick VOSTES, Lauric JEAN also made it to the second round.
In Women’s Singles Event top seeded players on duty Sara RAMIREZ of Spain and barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia. To the Round of 16 also progressed Alina ARLOUSKAYA, Katsiaryna BARAVOK and Ina KARAHODZINA of Belarus, Alex GALIC of Slovenia, Tessy GONDERINGER of Luxembourg, Laura PFEFER and Stephanie LOEUILLETTE, Alena LEMMER of Germany Szandra PERGEL of Hungary…
(by Gijs LAMON)
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Photo: Robin DEVOS (courtesy ITTF)
