He played in impressive style and produced fantastic game. “I feel better and better as we approaching the end of the Championships. I am here to win the medal,” remained BOLL. “I kept the match against MATTENET under good control. It was only fourth game that I felt under the pressure. I was convinced that I can not win the fourth game, but I succeeded.”

Asked could anyone beat him here, BOLL responded with the smile: “Yes, my next adversary.”

The first rate upset made Bojan TOKIC of Slovenia, world’s no 48, who beat world’s no. 13 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany to clinch first ever medal for Slovenia in singles 4:3 (8, -7, 9, 5, -5, -6, 10). He was 3:1 games up, then OVTCAHROV recovered to level and then TOKIC sealed the match in his favor. “It was like that throughout whole tournament; I was 3:1 up against PROKOPCOV and then won in seventh game; against HE Zhi Wen I had 3:1 and 8:5, before we reached decisive game. Liam PICHFORD had four match balls in Team’s event against me…” said TOKIC.

The favorites continued to stumble as the night continued. Next on line was Bastian STEGER of Germany who suffered by the hands of Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC of Serbia. KARAKASEVIC, focused and lethal as he was not for years reached quarters in bulldozer style and STEGER did a little to slow him down in the match for medal. “I played whole tournament completely focused on each ball. No meter if I lose or win the point I am 100 percent in game. I won first medal in singles and I will give away all what I had achieved so far for that one. I have to call my father to see how he is now. If he watched the show he must be close to heart attack,” said KARAKASEVIC.

Patrick BAUM beat Vladimir SAMSONOV again like last year and he did in five games. “There were few very tough situations. At 2:1 for me I was 7:9 down and after I won that I was safe,” said BAUM.

(by Milica NIKOLIC, EWT)

www.ettu.org