Andrej GACINA knows how to beat the best

January 30, 2015
12:00 am
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Andrej GACINA recorded just one defeat in the whole of the TMS 2014 European Team Championships in Lisbon last year in Portugal; it happened against Germany’s Timo BOLL. The 28 year old who guided Croatia to a bronze medal in the Portuguese capital city will have a chance to avenge his defeat very soon at the 2015 NN Table Tennis Club ITTF – Europe Top 16 in Baku (from 6^th to 8^th February).

The member of the Bundesliga’s Zugbrücke Grenzau is unsure about his current shape since he was not focused on tournaments in past few weeks.

“Speaking about my competitive shape I am not sure… In last two and half weeks after New Year’s holidays I was only practicing. I am building my form for three very important matches in Bundesliga as well as tournaments in February. I hope I will be ready in the right moment for matches and stay fit for Top 16 in Baku and forthcoming ITTF Events in Kuwait and Qatar ” announced GACINA.

At the NN Table Tennis Club ITTF – Europe Top 16 in Baku will play Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Timo BOLL Marcos FREITAS Vladimir SAMSONOV Tiago APOLONIA Panagiotis GIONIS Robert GARDOS Bastian STEGER Steffen MENGEL Kristian KARLSSON Simon GAUZY Adrien MATTENET Joao MONTEIRO Par GERELL and Fahrad ISMAYILOV as a host nation representative. GACINA is seeded no. seven.

“The competition is fierce. Top four players are the main favorites for the title but with such names at the list it is hard to give any predictions. “

What about your chances? “I do not have particular goals. I just want to give my best in each match and I hope I will be in the best shape for the Tournament. I can play against each player in Baku; there is no player I have not beaten before. The exception is OVTCHAROV but I have not played against Dima in last six years. Recently I lost against GIONIS and BOLL.”

GACINA wants to put more stability in his game this season. “My goal is to reach top 15 by the end of the year.” said World’s no. 26.

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