Europe Top-16 Cup | 8 Feb 2015

LIU Jia wins the title in Baku

LIU Jia of Austria defended her title at the 2015 NN Table Tennis Club ITTF – Europe Top 16. In the final she overcame Petrissa SOLJA of Germany. LIU’s game in the final was mistake–free, even she made joke that she played like a machine. “I think Petriss

LIU Jia of Austria defended her title at the 2015 NN Table Tennis Club ITTF – Europe Top 16. In the final she overcame Petrissa SOLJA of Germany.

LIU’s game in the final was mistake–free, even she made joke that she played like a machine. “I think Petrissa was a little bit nervous and on the other hand I played one of my best matches here,” stated LIU.

Asked was it harder this time, she replied: “It was the same. I had very close matches here as well.  The one against Kristin SILBEREISEN was the most difficult.”

In the contest for the bronze medal and last remaining place for World Cup Irene IVANCAN of Germany beat LI Jiao of Netherlands. “It is great relief that I secured the place at the World Cup. Now I do not have to think if someone will give up. Also, after very hard semi final it is good that I could say Goodbye to the tournament with the victory,” said IVANCAN.

Previously in the semi final, reigning champion LIU Jia further improved her record against LI Jiao of Netherlands who won the title at Top 12 for four times. European champion from 2005, overcame the lady who won European crown in 2007 and 2011 in the match which had two different parts.

From the start until 3:0 it seamed there is only one player at the field. LIU controlled the game; LI could not do anything with LIU’s service. However, from that moment LI get much more into the game. “LI is very clever player. It is always hard to play against her. It is never easy. She started to play risky and it paid of,” said LIU.

LI won fourth game, but it seamed LI recovered fast after she collected six match balls to conclude fifth game. “I do not know what happened then. I can not explain,” stated LIU. ”It is good that I managed to slow down the game and to regain the control in sixth game. That is the important thing against LI. You have to slow her down. Otherwise she is very quick and dangerous.”

The duel between two German players went on Petrissa SOLJA’s account. Irene IVANCAN come close in each game, but cannot steal the set. “We play so many times before and it is always close game. Two points difference almost always even I win or lose,” stated SOLJA.

SOLJA admitted she was very nervous. “I could not eat this morning, I slept very bad. I was thinking about the match. From the moment I made 3:0 advantage I was trying to calm down. I did not want to think about victory. I just played point for point.”
 
Women’s standing: 1.LIU Jia AUT; 2. Petrissa SOLJA GER; 3. Irene IVANCAN GER; 4. LI Jiao NED; 5. HU Melek TUR; 6. Georgina POTA HUN; 7. Kristin SILBEREISEN GER; 8. WU Jiaduo GER; 9/12. LI Jie NED, LI Qian POL, Polina MIKHAILOVA RUS, Iveta VACENOVSKA CZE; 13/16. Bernadette SZOCS ROU, Elizabeta SAMARA ROU, Natalia PARTYKA POL,  Maryam IMANOVA AZE

OFFICIAL ETTU PARTNERS & SUPPLIERS

ETTU OFFICIAL PARTNERS

ETTU SUPPLIERS POOL MEMBERS