Minsk 2019 2nd European Games Friday 28th June – Quotes of the Day by Milica Nikolic ETTU Press Officer 10.00 am: Women’s Team Semi-Final – Nina Mittelham and Han Ying (Germany) GERMANY 3-2 POLAND Shan Xiaona replaced the injured Petrissa Solja in the German team. Nina Mittelham and Shan Xiaona lost to Natalia Bajor and Natalia Partyka (11-8, 11-2, 14-12). Han Ying beat Li Qian (11-9, 11-7, 11-3), Shan Xiaona lost to Natalia Partyka (11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4), before Han Ying accounted for Natalia Bajor (11-2, 11-6, 11-8) and Nina Mittelham overcame Li Qian (4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9). “For the doubles, I have not had much many chances to partner Shan, so it was very difficult for us. It was also her first match here and it did not end up well for us. Luckily, Han played two amazing matches. She won quite easy and it opened the door for us. I am happy I seized the opportunity that has been given to me.” Nina Mittelham In the vital fifth match of the fixture Nina Mittelham recovered from 6-9 down, winning five points in a row to secure victory. “I did not think about the fact she is the European champion. What really was on my mind is the thought that I can play well against a player with the defensive style of play. I was shaking before the match but after it started I felt well; I felt the ball and my confidence rose. I believed I could win. In the fifth game she was up. I was tired, but I realised she was also tired too. I kept on attacking and I was thinking only about the next ball.” Nina Mittelham “I am so happy for Nina; this was an amazing match for her. She deserved this win.” Han Ying 1.00 pm: Women’s Team Semi-Final – Elizabeta Samara & Bernadette Szocs HUNGARY 2-3 ROMANIA Daniela Dodean and Elizabeta Samara lost to Szandra Pergel and Dora Madarasz (11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10); Bernadette Szocs beat both Georgina Pota (11-9, 11-7, 11-9) and Szandra Pergel (7-11, 12-10, 11- 9, 11-4) Sandwiched in between Elizabeta Samara suffered at the hands of Dora Madarasz (11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 11-4). Daniela Dodean accounted for Georgina Pota to seal the victory (11-6, 7-11, 12-14, 11-6, 12- 10). “In the doubles we had a chances but the unfortunately we suffered the same fate as at the Portugal Open. We lost the decisive game by a narrow margin. I should not have lost the singles match but it happened. I was just not good enough today and she was better. The good thing is that we have a very strong team and if one of us makes mistakes, we have great support and enough quality from the others. Daniela was a real hero today.” Elizabeta Samara “I was well prepared for all players but I hoped it will be Pota first. Mentally that would have been easier for me.” Bernadette Szocs Page 1 4.00 pm: Men’s Team Semi-Final – Dimitrij Ovtcharov & Jörg Rosskopf GERMANY 3-0 PORTUGAL Timo Boll and Patrick Franziska beat João Monteiro and Tiago Apolonia (12-10, 11-7, 16- 14); Dimitrij Ovtcharov accounted for Marcos Freitas (11-8, 11-2, 11-6) before Patrick Franziska recovered from a two games to nil deficit to overcome Tiago Apolonia (7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6). “This is all about team work and as a team we proved the stronger. I am also happy with my performance. I know Marcos very well and in my case sometimes to play him is not very good option. I played my best table tennis since we arrived here and I hope I will keep this level tomorrow in the final.” Dimitrij Ovtcharov Directing matters was Jörg Rosskopf, the men’s team national coach. “We started with an excellent performance from Timo and Patrick in doubles. Ovtcharov was perfect against Marcos, the player with whom he is playing in the same club. Only in the opening game when he was 2-4 down was there any difficulty, from then on he always had the advantage. I am also happy with Patrick’s performance. It is very important for the team that he could recover from such hard moments and that he is ready to fight until the last point. I cannot criticize anything about his game; in the opening games Apolonia played at his best; his level was unbelievable. Patrick managed to adjust and the level of his match at the end of the second game was very high. After that I just advised him to slightly adjust his tactics and to keep on fighting.” Jörg Rosskopf 7.00 pm: Men’s Team Semi-Final – Jon Persson, Mattias Falck & Kristian Karlsson DENMARK 1-3 SWEDEN Jon Persson and Kristian Karlsson beat Anders Lind and Tobias Rasmussen (11-5, 12-10, 11-6) to give Sweden the ideal start. Jonathan Groth levelled matters by overcoming Mattias Falck (11-1, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7) but that was the end of Danish success. Kristian Karlsson accounted for Tobias Rasmussen (11-6, 11-8, 11-7), Mattias Falck overcame Anders Lind (11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5). “We moved very well. We were very aggressive. In second game they had a 10-8 lead but we were better in the finish.” Jon Persson. “I felt I could beat Jonathan in the open game, I had a good chance but he was very aggressive and very confident. He is playing unbelievable table tennis here. The spin Lind puts on the ball is difficult to counter. I prepared well. He is not easy player to beat. I was aggressive from the beginning.” Mattias Falck “I am very happy with the outcome of the match also with the level of my performance. I was also in good shape yesterday. Today everything was right.” Kristian Karlsson Page 2 .