LIEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships
In the semi final of the Women’s Singles Event at the LIEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships HU Melek will meet LI Jie whilst Elizabeta SAMARA will meet FU Yu.
HU Melek reached the penultimate stage after the victory over top seeded HAN Ying of Germany (7-11 11-9 9-11 8-11 11-8 9-11).
“I had to try everything to beat her. It was very long match. Sometimes I felt like I am hitting the wall everything came back. HAN is top World player ” said HU.
Previously Polina MIKHAILOVA suffered by the hands of HU (11-7 11-9 5-11 4-11 9-11 9-11).
In the Round of 16 HAN Ying overcame Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN of Romania (11-3 11-3 7-11 14-12 12-10). All games were very close but last two concluded by narrowest of margins.
“It was really long game. In the final stages of the match I lost my focus ” said HAN.
To reach Round of 4 LI Je of Netherlands overcame Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden in seven games (16-14 14-16 9-11 4-11 13-11 11-7 11-6). It was the same outcome like earlier this year in the Olympic Qualifications in Sweden.
“I started good but then she improved her top spin. I could not block her; I was in great problem but I did not want to think of it. I just continued to play ” said LI. “Against HU I played twice before and lost. However now it is new chance for me.”
Round earlier LI Jie easily prevailed against Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus in straight games (11-6 11-8 11-3 11-8).
“I did not prepare any tactics. I just entered the arena and started to play. I do not like to think about my adversaries before the match. I am just focused on my game ” said LI.
In Round of 16 EKHOLM reduced the number of German players on the field. She beat SHAN SHAN Xiaona (11-7 6-11 5-11 11-8 11-6 11-5).
“I started very well but latter maybe I was focused to much on the tactics and not on what was going on. I lost two games before I recovered ” said EKHOLM.
No. two seed Petrissa SOLJA is also out after the quarterfinal matches. She suffered by the hands of YU Fu of Portugal (11-8 11-9 11-7 9-11 8-11 9-11 11-5). YU inflicted the pain in the harts of the host nation supporters by beating Georgina POTA of Hungary in Round 16 (11-5 11-2 5-11 11-7 5-11 2-11 7-11).
After the match POTA cried in the mixed zone area but even visibly shaken she did not forget her fans. She disappeared for a few minutes to calm down and come back to sign the autographs for fans at the stands.
“POTA get an extra power from the fans. They made incredible atmosphere. It was very hard to play against her ” said YU.
In the same round Petrissa SOLJA needed only four games to beat Maria DOLGIKH of Russia (3-11 4-11 7-11 1-11).
“ I enjoyed this match. Everything I planed happened. Every stroke worked well. I was very relaxed ” said SOLJA.
Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania needed six games to secure her place in the semis. She beat Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany (11-5 13-11 9-11 7-11 13-15 11-13).
“I had a set ball in the second game but I missed it I could of made my life less difficult for sure ” Said SAMARA.” Now I have to focu on my game against FU. we are in the same club in France so there will be no big secrets tomorow.”
Previously Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany beat NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg but she had to go all seven games to achieve that. Kristin was 1:3 in reverse before she recovered.
“At that point I changed my service game and I started to play more aggressive ” said SILBEREISEN.
Elizabeta SAMARA prevailed against Sabine WINTER in the Round of 16 (12-10 5-11 9-11 8-11 9-11).
“In the third game Sabine was on the way to win that set. It was important to stop her then. I did it and regain complete control ” said SAMARA.
