by Ian Marshall, Editor
Defeat but much different to one year ago when, also in Montreux, they had met in the opening round; on that occasion, Sofia Polcanova had prevailed in five games (11-6, 11-4, 11-8, 12-14, 11-6).
“I do not want it to sound like an excuse, because Rachel played very well but I am coming back from an injury and I did not have a good feeling for the ball during the match. It was the first match in the event, I was not at all confident with my forehand. There was a little bit of everything in the match that caused it to be close.” Sofia Polcanova
Disappointment for Rachel Moret, it was the same for her colleague in the men’s event, Lionel Weber, likewise the no.16 seed but in rather different circumstances; he was beaten in straight games by Denmark’s Jonathan Groth, the no.6 seed (11-6, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7).
“I was well prepared. I watched Lionel’s match against Timo Boll at last year’s European Championships on YouTube and I was aware how dangerous he is. Also here, last year, when he played against Dimitrij Ovtcharov, all the games were very close. I knew if I lost a focus for a second, he will take his chance.” Jonathan Groth
Sofia Polcanova now meets the winner of the contest between Germany’s Nina Mittelham and Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm; for Jonathan Groth it is either Ukraine’s Kou Lei or Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtxharov.
