Europe Top-16 Cup | 25 Feb 2023

Star names once again on duty in Montreux

Photo: Rémy Gros

Mouth-watering confrontations abundant; that is the scenario for the The China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup commenced this morning in Montreux. For a fifth time, top Continental players returned to the beautiful city on the Lake to fight for prestigious title and their share in 100.000 Euros in prize money.

Today, the morning sessions brings Round of 16 matches, whilst in the afternoon we are going to see quarterfinalists in action.

Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) - Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) 4:2 (11:6, 8:11, 12:14, 11:5, 12:10, 11:4)

Kristian KARLSSON, just freshly recovered from the respiratory infection, showed brave face and high quality of the game to overcame Emmanuel LEBESSON in the opening match of the Men's Singles Round 16.

“Mani and I always play extra close duels and this was not exception, the only difference was that I did not scream and jump around of joy when we finished. I had to preserve my strength,” said KARLSSON. “At the end I am very happy with my overall performance in last three games.”

YU Fu (Portugal) - Christina KALLBERG (Sweden) 4:3 (11:8, 11:6, 9:11, 11:8, 5:11, 8:11, 11:6)

It took full seven games before YU Fu managed to secure her quarterfinal place. On her premiere at the Top 16, Christina KALLBERG put Portugal's star on severe test.

“Her game is at the high quality, but I am also responsible for a drama that happened at the end. After 3:1, I was too relaxed and KALLBERG seized her opportunity to recover,” said YU.

QIU Dang (Germany) – Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) 4:0 (12:10, 11:6, 11:6, 11:6)

In the furious style QIU Dang moved to the quarters after straight matches win over Marcos FREITAS.

“It was far from easy as the result predicts. Marcos is very long in the top of the Europe and he won the title here, so I was aware of the danger. Still, I was down in the opening game 2:7, but I managed to recover. That boosted my confidence,” explained QIU.

Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) – Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) 4:0 (11:4, 14:12, 11:3, 11:6)

No. two seed Sofia POLCANOVA justified her status this morning and secured her place in the quarters after straight games win over Elizabeta SAMARA.

“I think that Elizabeta was struggling to find the solution for the pace I made, but nevertheless it was very close at the begining. In the second game I was 7:2 up, but then she got close. After I managed to win that game I got a lot self-confidence, but still I was very cautious after 3:0. It proved by time in the past, that I have tendency to create 3:3 from 3:0 very often, so I was on alert,” said POLCANOVA.

Andrej GACINA (Croatia) - Elias HARDMEIER (Switzerland) 4:1 (11:3, 5:11, 11:3, 11:6, 11:4)

Andrej GACINA inflicted the pain in the harts of the home crowd by overcoming Elias HARDMEIER.

“It is not easy to have such adversary at the begining of the event. I had never play against him and neither have chance to see him play before. I studied his game by looking the video, but it is not the same. I only knew one thing for sure, if he is 100 percent into the game he could be very dangerous and he proved that right in the second game. Elias played very aggressively and won that part of the match. After, I just regain my focus and started to play more of my game,” said GACINA.

NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) – Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) 4:2 (11:6, 11:4, 6:11, 5:11, 11:5, 11:9)

NI Xia Lian's smile radiate after the victory over barbora BALAZOVA whilst she admitted that Slovakia's player put her under severe pressure.

“I did not have any doubt about the quality of any player here, but I was little bit surprised with the game that Barbora showed against me. She was really good and I struggled to adapt to her style. My advantage is very strong mentality so I was seeking for a way out. I stayed true to my character and did not give up. It keeps your heart at the right place at the end, but it also creates the solutions. Eventually I grabbed all the chances that came my way,” said NI.

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) – Robert GARDOS (Austria) 4:1 (8:11, 11:9, 11:8, 11:3, 11:5)

Robert GARDOS had a better start, but from the second game Dimitrij OVTCHAROV put the match under his control to move to the quarterfinal.

“In the opening game, GARDOS attacked me and I was not fully into game to respond to it. Then I made few easy mistakes and brought myself into 9:9 situation in the second game. However, when I managed to recover from it, I was finally in the control of the match. From the third game i felt I am in event, in the match,” said OVTCHAROV.

SHAO Jieni (Portugal) - YUAN Jia Nan (France) 4:2 (11:4, 11:4, 11:8, 6:11, 9:11, 11:7)

SHAO Jieni accounted for YUAN Jia Nan. French player failed to find the rhythm in the opening games, but from the third game she managed to put some pressure on SHAO.

Simon GAUZY (France) – Joao GERALDO (Portugal) 4:2 (11:8, 10:12, 11:8, 8:11, 16:14, 11:9)

In thrilling six games clash, that kept the spectators at the edge of their seats Simon GAUZY prevailed against Joao GERALDO.

“Joao justified his status as very dangerous player when it comes to the close matches. All the games very close, but the key momen

Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) – Georgina POTA (Hungary) 4:0 (11:9, 11:9, 17:15, 11:3)

the winner of the event in 2021, Nina MITTELHAM closed her opening duel today in victorious way. Georgina POTA lost three very close games, before Nina took control over the match in the fourth.

“So far this year, I am still seeking for my top shape. It was difficult for me to play against POTA today. However for a first time this season I won the close game and that really boosted my self confidence,” said MITTELHAM.

Darko JORGIC (Slovenia) – Jonathan GROTH (Denmark) (12:10, 11:6, 12:10, 11:5)

Reigning champion had the deja vu. Same as last year, today in the opening round, Darko JORGIC play against Jonathan GROTH.

“Last year I beat him much easily. This time he was well prepared. First and third games were very close,” said JORGIC.

Hana MATELOVA (Czechia) - Rachel MORET (Switzerland) (8:11, 11:6, 12:10, 17:15, 8:11, 6:11, 11:5)

Hana MATELOVA withstood Rachel MORET's spirited come back to win the duel. MORET was 1:3 in reverse and to delight of the home crowd she managed to level the match. However, MATELOVA showed she has calmer hand in the finish.

“I had to win this one. In recent weeks I lost few very close games and it will be very hard for me to recover mentally if I had lost this one,” said Hana.

Truls MOREGARDH (Sweden) – WANG Yang (Slovakia) 4:1 (11:7, 11:6, 14:12, 9:11, 11:9)

It might started as an easy match, but the duel between the top seeded player in the Men's event, Truls MOREGARDH and WANG Yang developed into the close clash.

“I knew it is going to be that way. I expected the hard match for the begining of this event. I had to work very hard to get to the victory. WANG could always add extra spin, attack hard, he had so much variations in his game,” said Truls.

Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) - Natalia BAJOR (Poland) (11:7, 11:7, 11:4, 11:8)

Bernadette SZOCS justified her position, reaching the quarterfinal without due alarm. She overcame Natalia BAJOR in straight games.

“I watched her matches and I was prepared well. I prepared two or three tactics, because you cannot play with the same tactics against Natalia. I changed the pace of the game and controled it,” said Bernadette.

Liam PITCHFORD (England) – Tomislav PUCAR (Croatia) (11:7, 11:7, 7:11, 15:13, 10:12, 11:3)

Liam PITCHFORD left the court satisfied with his performance after the break; he accounted for Tomislav PUCAR.

“The game was close as I expected. We played in the same club and practiced together for few years, so obviously we know each other well. I knew I had to stop his backhand flip and I did it successfully in the opening two games. Then he got into the rhythm to get 3:1. At the end I had safe 7:0 lead to close the match without pressure,” said Liam.

HAN Ying (Germany) – Linda BERGSTROM (Sweden) 4:1 (11:5, 6:11, 11:7, 11:7, 11:9)

The clash between two players with the defensive style of play ended in the favor of the number one seed. HAN Ying maintain her patience to prevailed against Linda BERGSTROM.

“For me those matches are always close and the chances are 50:50. I was pushing myself to attack her, not to be passive,” said HAN.