Champions League Women | 5 Dec 2020

Stars on the big test before knock out stage

Photo: Helmut Ploberger (PHOTO PLOHE)

European Champions League Women (from 3rd to 8th December)

Day three of the European Champions League Women in Sportpark Lissfeld started with the last round in Group stage. After two days one semi finalist is already known. French TT Saint-Quentinois recorded both wins in their group of three. In two other groups we have to wait for the results in the ultimate round. Winners will qualify for the semi-final, whilst runners up will proceed to play-off.

In play-off round there will be one group of three clubs and the winner qualifies for the last place in the semifinal.

You can follow the live action here.

SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin CZE- TTC CarinthiaWinds Villach AUT 3:0

Sakura MORI - Bettina FEUERABEND 3:0 (11:6, 11:5, 11:6)

Solomiya BRATEYKO - Anna Zsofia FENYVESI 3:0 (11:3, 11:8, 11:5)

Since TT Saint-Quentinois already beat both clubs, the duel between SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin and TTC CarinthiaWinds Villach was played for the position no. two and the place in the play off. With only two players on the Austria's club playing list there were little chance for Carinthia Winds Villach.

Without difficulties Japan's Sakura MORI overcame ettina FEUERABEND and Solomiya BRATEYKO also had an easy task against Anna Zsofia FENYVESI.

“Yesterday we had close match against Saint-Quentinois but unfortunately we lost, it would be perfect to be on 1st place in the group and go directly to the semi final, but we lost so we have to fight tomorrow,” said Natalia PARTYKA.”I am disappoint with my yesterday's performance, but I hope I will be able to play better tomorrow. On the other side Mori SAKURA is doing her job really good, she plays well. So I hope everything stays this way.”

Metz TT FRA- Girbau-Vic TT ESP 3:0

Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN - Gabriela FEHER 3:0 (11:6, 11:7, 11:7)

Adina DIACONU - Sofia-Xuan ZHANG 3:0 (11:7, 11:8, 11:4)

WU Jiaduo - Charlotte CAREY 3:0 (11:7, 11:7, 11:7)

Metz TT beat Girbau-Vic TT to finish the Group stage with two wins and one defeat. Before Spanish club, they overcame Hungay'sSH-ITB Budaörsi 2I SC, but lost to no. two seeds Linz AG Froschberg.

Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN overcame Gabriela FEHER in straight games to give Metz a dream start. The pace has not change in matches that followed. Like the opening one, the duel between Adina DIACONU and Sofia-Xuan ZHANG ended in favor of the Romania's player. WU Jiaduo recorded another straight games victory over Charlotte CAREY.

“I am happy I won because I know FEHER since forever; she is very good and clever player so I knew i must take good care...I am happy with my performance today, since we had a very difficult day yesterday,” said Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN.” Yesterday the luck definitely was not on my side...But i am happy we played on high level, we continue our journey with more matches. I miss the old times. I wish one day they will stop to make so many changes in the sport, table tennis changed a lot since i started to play.”

Linz AG Froschberg AUT - SH-ITB Budaörsi Sport Club HUN

Margarita PESOTSKA – Sabina SURJAN 3:2 (11:3, 11:13, 11:8, 11:13, 6:5)

Bernadette -SZOCS - Maria FAZEKAS 3:0 (6:11, 11:7, 11:6)

Margarita BALTUSHITE - Helga DARI (10:12, 4:11, 11:4, 11:4, 6:3)

Linz AG Froschberg booked the first place in the Group B and progressed directly to the semifinal of the Event. With two defeats SH-ITB Budaörsi 2I SH-IT finished their journey in Linz.

In the opening match, Sabina SURJAN stretched Margarita PESOTSKA to full distance, but sudden death point rule worked for Ukraine's player. Beside the opening , the other four games were played at the edge of the knife. PESOTSKA put a great effort to control SURJAN's aggressive play and succeed in crucial moment.

“I watched videos of all girls and I was prepared it will be very difficult to overcame SURJAN. She put a lot of balls on the table and makes little mistakes. Opening game was easy, but then she began to be very aggressive. I had to change the tactics – she played equally good from backhand and forehand, like it does not makes the difference. Then I decided to play a little more on forehand, because she attacked too fast from backhand. It was close until the last point. Even the winning point was at the edge of the net,” explained PESOTSKA.

In the second duel Bernadette SZOCS spent less time in playing arena. She overcame Maria FAZEKAS in straight games. She was precise and lethal. Margarita BALTUSHITE recovered from two games to null in reverse to overcame Helga DARI in sudden death fifth game and to launch hosts in the semis in express style.

UCAM Cartagena T.M ESP- CP Lyssois Lille Métropole FRA 3:2

Maria XIAO - Linda BERGSTROM 0:3 (10:12, 7:11, 10:12)

LI Fen - Dora MADARASZ 3:0 (11:8, 11:6, 11:4)

Silvia ERDELJI - Andrea TODOROVIC 0:3 (8:11, 12:14, 11:13)

LI Fen - Linda BERGSTROM 3:0 (11:9, 11:8, 11:8)

Maria XIAO - Dora MADARASZ 3:1 (11:9, 8:11, 11:7, 11:7)

In thrilling five matches encounter UCAM Cartagena T.M overcame CP Lyssois Lille Métropole to stay in the run for the semi final place.

Linda BERGSTROM was under severe pressure against Maria XIAO, but she played very mature in crucial points. Swede clinched straight games victory after two games concluded by very narrow margin.

LI Fen won the equalizer by nullifying all the efforts Dora MADARASZ took to take the control the match. Nothing Dora tried did not work. In third match.

“I was well prepared for my matches here. I study the adversaries, so I avoid any surprises,” said former European champion LI Fen.

Andrea TODOROVIC put French club once again in the lead. She beat Silvia ERDELJI in straight games but two games ended by narrowest of margin. The backbone of the Spanish club, LI Fen pushed the duel into the decisive match. She recorded another straight games victory despite very impressive performance of Linda BERGSTROM. On her second exit to the table Maria XIAO overcame MADARASZ.

“I did not show my best performance in the opening match. LI told me I should be less under stress and to enjoy the game more. That is what I did and everything was better,” said Maria.

TTC Berlin eastside GER- GDCS Do Juncal POR 3:0

Nina MITTELHAM - Raquel ANDRADE 3:0 (11:7, 11:9, 11:3)

Britt EERLAND - Tatiana GARNOVA 3:0 (11:7, 11:8, 11:9)

SHAN Xiaona - Janet EFFIAM 3:0 (11:4, 11:5, 11:5)

Top seeded club, Germany's TTC Berlin eastside justified their status. On the third day of play they remained unbeaten and progressed to the penultimate round. After victories over UCAM Cartagena T.M and CP Lyssois Lille Métropole they overcame Portugal's GDCS Do Juncal.

Nina MITTELHAM overcame Raquel ANDRADE in straight games to set the furious pace to the match. Britt EERLAND followed her path with the victory over Tatiana GARNOVA, whilst SHAN Xiaona needed to put even less efforts to beat Janet EFFIAM.