Liam Pitchford and Kelly Sibley have had outstanding INTERSPORT European Championships this week from the beginning until the great pinnacle of yesterday (and perhaps beyond).
While Liam’s achievements have been widely recognised with his four wins over players in the top 100, culminating in his brilliant double victory yesterday over world number 20 Alexey Smirnov and number 115 Oleksandr Didukh, Kelly has remained unbeaten throughout all ten of her matches – both singles and doubles.
Her great run culminated in a superb victory over world number 78 Anna Tikhomirova last night. Can they go further? The odds say no, the three male British players left in the singles draw are in the lowest four ranked in the world left in the competition, but that hasn’t stopped them so far.
While Kelly’s first game is her doubles with Jo Parker against Viktoria Pavlovich and Svetlana Ganina, Liam’s is against Wen He Zhi (62). Kelly also has her singles match with Li Jiao.
Pitchford bt Samsonov (BLR) (9) 3-2 (11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7)
Jakab (HUN) (103) bt Pitchford 3-1 (11-5, 4-11, 12-10, 11-5)
Rubtsov (RUS) (61) bt Pitchford 3-2 (8-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-6)
Pitchford bt Prokopcov (CZE) (51) 3-1 (11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8)
Pitchford bt Konecny (CZE) (96) 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-8)
Mattenet (FRA) (26) bt Pitchford 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-7)
Tokic (SLV) (45) bt Pitchford 3-2 (8-11, 7-11, 11-3, 16-14, 11-5)
Pitchford bt Olah (FIN) (316) 4-2 (4-11, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-7)
Pitchford/Drinkhall bt Erlandsen/Ronneberg (NOR) 3-1 (11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8)
Pitchford bt Smirnov (RUS) (20) 4-3 (12-14, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-4, 10-12, 12-10)
Gardos/Habesohn (AUT) bt Pitchford/Drinkhall 3-1 (6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-2)
Pitchford bt Didukh (UKR) (115) 4-1 (5-11, 13-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6)
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Sibley bt Eminova (AZE) (U/R) 3-1 (10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7)
Sibley bt Ridolfi (ITA) (564) 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4)
Sibley bt Eriksson (FIN)(808) 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-5)
Sibley bt Christoforaki (GRE) (340) 3-2 (8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7)
Sibley bt Neves (POR) (418) 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-6)
Sibley bt Abbat (FRA)(203) 3-2 (11-9, 11-8, 13-15, 6-11, 11-5)
Sibley/Parker bt Pietkiewicz/Luczakowska (POL) 3-1 (9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5)
Sibley bt Phillips (WAL) (872) 4-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 11-2)
Sibley/Parker bt Nilsen/Grutle (NOR) 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-5)
Sibley bt Tikhomirova (RUS) (78) 4-3 (8-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 4-11, 13-11)