Europe Top-16 Cup | 3 Feb 2018
OVTCHAROV look forward duel against GIONIS
Photo: Rémy Gros ITTF
China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup
In the quarterfinal of the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup no. one seed in the Men’s Singles Event Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany will meet Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece. His compatriot Bastian STEGER also booked his place among Top 8 whilst Sofia POLCANOVA and Matilda EKHOL progressed to the quarters in Women’s Event.
World’s no. one OVTCHAROV was at the top of his game against Lionel WEBER of Switzerland (11:9, 11:9, 11:8, 11:5).
“I was focused from the beginning. It was nice to play against Lionel, but now I am focused on forthcoming duel against GIONIS. It was while ago when I played last time against him. We played couple very hard matches and I have to prepare well for that match,” said OVTCHAROV.
Matilda EKHOLM beat Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus (11:5, 11:8, 11:5, 11:6).
“I was ready. I spent four years in same club with Tetyana BILENKO so I know how to set a tactics. I forced hard top spins which made all efforts to keep the ball low very ineffective,” said EKHOLM.
Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria inflected the pain in the hart of the host nation supporters by beating Rachel MORET (6:11, 4:11, 8:11, 14:12, 6:11).
“MORET played very well. I had to be very aggressive fro the beginning and to prevent her of finding her rhythm. I was in control until the third game. After that I was little bit passive with my service and let her come back. Luckily I had better approach in fourth game,” said POLCANOVA.
Bastian STEGER of Germany overcame European champion from Budapest Emmanuel LEBESSON of France ( 11:6, 12:10, 7:11, 5:11, 9:11, 4:11).
“IT was a very difficult match. It is always hard to play against LEBESSON because it hard to find the rhythm. I was little disappointed when I lost second game, because I had a chance there. However I was much better with return from the third game and I took the control over the match,” said STEGER.
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