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Liebherr 2018 ITTF European Championships

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2018 Liebherr European Championships

Sara Ramirez in form, raises host nation’s spirits

18 Sep 2018

Crucial to the host country’s success for well over a decade, Sara Ramirez was very much the player in form as the second series of matches in the qualification group stage of the Women’s Singles event at the Liebherr 2018 ITTF European Championships in Alicante, Spain came to a close on Tuesday 18th September.

Two matches played, two wins recorded.

A serving action of her very own, Sara Ramirez (Photo: Rémy Gros)

by Ian Marshall, Editor

After accounting for Belgium’s Lisa Lung (11-2, 6-11, 11-9, 7-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7), she overcame Charlotte Carey of Wales (13-11, 10-12, 11-7, 13-11, 3-11, 8-11, 11-8), at no.101, the highest ranked player in the group.

Good form from Sara Ramirez, arguably it was even better form from Turkey’s Ozge Guisnel; success against Oceane Guisnel of France (14-12, 2-11, 15-13, 13-11, 4-11, 11-9) was followed by victory in opposition to Italy’s Giorgia Piccolin (11-8, 7-11, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8), at no.90 not only the highest ranked player in the group, moreover the highest in the qualification event.

Similarly, Russia’s Valeria Shcherbatykh excelled, she accounted for Switzerland’s Ilka Doval (14-12, 11-6, 13-11, 11-7), prior to overcoming Pauline Chasselin of France (11-6, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7); at no.108, Pauline Chasselin commenced matters the top name in the group.

Defeats for three players, who started the day as the highest rated in their respective groups; as the second series of matches concluded, there were defeats for three more, Sweden’s Linda Bergström, Russia’s Mariia Tailakova and Slovakia’s Tatiana Kukulkova all suffered. Linda Bergström lost to Croatia’s Ivana Malobabic (11-13, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 15-13, 11-7); Mariia Tailakova experienced defeat at the hands of Turkey’s Sibel Altinkaya (8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 12-19), Tatiana Kukulkova was beaten by Italy’s Jamila Laurenti (11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 11-6, 11-8).

Notably, earlier in the day, Jamila Laurenti had lost to Serbia’s Izabela Lupulesku (11-6, 11-13, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6) who later accounted for Croatia’s Petra Petek (11-7, 19-17, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9) to end the day unbeaten.

“For me it is very important to be here. Playing against seniors gives me great experience. I had a very difficult match this morning against Lupulesku but in the afternoon I felt much better.” Jamila Laurenti

Meanwhile, as the day closed, other than for Giorgia Piccolin, it was a successful start for the prominent names. Ukraine’s Tetyana Bilenko, Austria’s Amelie Solja and the Czech Republic’s Dana Cechova all remained unbeaten as did Romania’s Daniela Monteiro Dodean and England’s Tin-Tin Ho.

Play in the Women’s Singles qualification tournament concludes on Wednesday 19th September.

2018 Liebherr European Championships Sara Ramirez

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