European Champions League Damen 2023/2024

[ratte@platteAUT]

Der Ausfall von Han Ying (der mir persönlich sehr leid tut) hat den Ausgang der heurigen Damen-CL wesentlich spannender gemacht. Zwar ist Tarnobrzeg noch immer Favorit auf den Titel, aber wie das Viertelfinale zeigt, an einem Tag an dem alles zusammenläuft auch schlagbar. Froschbergs Polcanova ist immer für zwei Siege gut und auf Sawettabut war in den letzten Spielen auch immer Verlass. Der Schwachpunkt von den Österreichern ist meines Erachtens die dritte Spielerin, da Malobabic zwar im Viertelfinale überraschen konnte, aber gegen Tarnobrzeg dürfte die Latte nochmals höher liegen. Der "Einkauf" von Yana Noskova war diese Saison leider nicht glücklich, da diese mehr als unterirdische Leistungen in den Gruppenspielen zeigte.
Hodonin und Etival traue ich im Finale, gegen wen auch immer, eine Überraschung zu.

[ELIAS]

LINZ AG Froschberg’s golden ride to the semis

Austria’s LINZ AG Froschberg needed to win the Golden match against SAINT QUENTIN TT in France to book the last remaining place in the semi-final of the Champions League Women.

Both clubs remained unbeaten on their home soil in the "regular" two legs of the quarterfinal, so the Golden match was introduced.

Polina MIKHAILOVA succeeded twice against Sofia POLCANOVA tonight. On the other side, Susini SAWETTABUT produced the win in the first part tonight and later in the Golden match. Ivana MALOBABIC lost to Linda BERGSTRÖM, who also scored against Sofia POLCANOVA. Ivana MALOBABIC won one match – the decisive one.

"DODEAN plays very well against players with a defensive style, but my game is precisely about having nerves, being patient, and when you play one game, anything is possible. It was a very long and exhausting match. We are happy that we won. We showed excellent teamwork," said Ivana MALOBABIC after the match that lasted 3 hours and 44 minutes.

In the semi final of the Champions League Women, LINZ AG Froschberg will meet KTS ENEA SIARKO TARNOBRZEG and ETIVAL ASRTT will play SKST Plus Hodonín.


SAINT QUENTIN TT - LINZ AG Froschberg 3-1

Linda BERGSTRÖM - Ivana MALOBABIC 3-2 (6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 6-4)

Polina MIKHAILOVA - Sofia POLCANOVA 3-2 (8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-2, 6-5)

Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN - Susini SAWETTABUT 0-3 (13-15, 10-12, 9-11)

Linda BERGSTRÖM - Sofia POLCANOVA 3-2 (11-5, 4-11, 11-9, 9-11, 6-4)


Golden match

SAINT QUENTIN TT - LINZ AG Froschberg 1-2

Linda BERGSTRÖM - Susini SAWETTABUT 0-1 (12-14)

Polina MIKHAILOVA - Sofia POLCANOVA 1-0 (11-8)

Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN - Ivana MALOBABIC 0-1 (6-11)

[ELIAS]

Dominant Performance by Reigning Champions in Champions League Women

Reigning champions in the Champions League Women, KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG, were in the fast lane tonight. In the opening leg of the semi-final, the Polish champions beat LINZ AG Froschberg in straight matches.

Unlike the very close quarterfinal and two legs that ended in five matches and required a gold match, the opening leg of the penultimate stage was finished in the express lane.

“The team was fantastic tonight. We were very motivated,” said Elizabeta SAMARA. “Fu Yu performed at the top level tonight. She was superb. Xiao Xin was also at a high level.”

SAMARA was forced to go the full distance. She beat Suthasini SAWETTABUT by the death point.

“In the key moments, I was more focused, but I have to give credit to SAWETTABUT for a very tough fight.”

The return leg will be played in Poland on Saturday.

In the other semi-final, SKST Plus Hodonín will meet ETIVAL ASRTT.


LINZ AG Froschberg- KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG 0-3

Sofia POLCANOVA - Fu YU 0-3 (7-11, 8-11, 8-11)

Ivana MALOBABIC - Xiaoxin YANG 0-3 (3-11, 4-11, 4-11)

Suthasini SAWETTABUT - Elizabeta SAMARA 2-3 (13-11, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 5-6)

[ELIAS]

KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG has secured a spot in the final, aiming for their third consecutive title win

KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG is one stage away from claiming their fourth crown in the Champions League Women, the third in a row. Tonight, they overcame the two-time winners and three-time runners-up, LINZ AG Froschberg. After a 3-0 victory in the away match in Austria, Poland’s champions were pushed to the limit tonight.

In the opening duel, Xiaoxin YANG managed to withstand Sofia POLCANOVA’s spirited comeback from 0-2 to 2-2, ultimately winning the decisive game.

In another closely contested match, FU Yu held a 2-1 advantage against Suthasini SAWETTABUT, before the player from Thailand recovered to win the match, nullifying TARNOBRZEG’s advantage.

Elizabeta SAMARA won the key duel against Anastasia STERNER RADZIONAVA. With a 2-1 and 3-0 victory in the opening leg, the champions secured their spot in the final.

"We expected that they would challenge us fiercely; they were fighting for every ball. The key match was the opening one between Xiaoxin YANG and Sofia POLCANOVA. Xiaoxin showed incredible mental strength, winning the first two games 13-11 each. Even when Sofia managed to level the score, Xiaoxin performed fantastically. I had a slow start, but after the opening set, I got into the rhythm and secured the victory for the final. We won, and now we are very happy to reach another final in the Champions League,” said Elizabeta SAMARA.

In the final, KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG will meet the winner of the match between SKST Plus Hodonín and ETIVAL ASRTT.


Second leg

KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG - LINZ AG Froschberg 3-2

Xiaoxin YANG- Sofia POLCANOVA 3-2 (13-11, 13-11, 8-11, 8-11, 6-4)

Fu YU- Suthasini SAWETTABUT 2-3 (9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 3-6)

Elizabeta SAMARA – Anastasia STERNER RADZIONAVA (9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7)

Xiaoxin YANG- Suthasini SAWETTABUT 2-3 (5-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 4-6)

Fu YU- Andrea PAVLOVIC 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-7)


Opening leg

LINZ AG Froschberg- KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG 0-3

Sofia POLCANOVA - Fu YU 0-3 (7-11, 8-11, 8-11)

Ivana MALOBABIC - Xiaoxin YANG 0-3 (3-11, 4-11, 4-11)

Suthasini SAWETTABUT - Elizabeta SAMARA 2-3 (13-11, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 5-6)

[ELIAS]

ETTU: ETIVAL ASRTT secured opening leg win in Czechia

The first leg of the Champions League Women's semi-final ended in favor of French team ETIVAL ASRTT. Despite a valiant effort from SKST Plus Hodonín in Czechia, the visitors emerged victorious.

Both opening matches, featuring Sakura MORI against Marie MIGOT and Natalia PARTYKA versus Jieni SHAO, went full distance. The only victory for the Czech team came from Karin GROFOVA in her match against Camelia IACOB. However, Jieni SHAO secured the decisive win over Sakura MORI in her second exit to the table.

"The 3-1 victory sets us up well for the second leg. We started with great focus because Hodonín boasts a quality team. The first singles match was crucial, with Marie MIGOT narrowly clinching victory in the fifth game. I'm particularly pleased that SHAO Jieni secured two points," stated Etival ASRTT coach Jerome HUMBERT.

MIGOT expressed delight with the crowd and atmosphere in Czechia but admitted needing time to adjust to the conditions.

"Here in the hall, the balls and especially the tables are different from what I'm used to practicing on. In the first game, I felt that the ball wasn't moving as I expected. I had to adjust my tactics to find my rhythm. The atmosphere in the hall was a great boost; I'm not fond of empty stands and small venues. The audience was fantastic. As for the fifth game, I thrive in those situations. This year, I've played three fifth games and won all three. It's about finding the right mindset and going for the win. A net or two might happen, but a player mustn't lose focus," explained Marie MIGOT.

Reigning champions KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg have already secured their spot in the final.

SKST Plus Hodonín - ETIVAL ASRTT 1-3

Sakura MORI - Marie MIGOT 2-3 (11-2, 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 2-6)

Natalia PARTYKA - Jieni SHAO 2-3 (8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 0-6)

Karin GROFOVA - Camelia IACOB 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-7)

Sakura MORI - Jieni SHAO 1-3 (7-11, 11-3, 9-11, 9-11)

[ELIAS]

ETTU: ETIVAL ASRTT reached the final stage of the Champions League Women

ETIVAL ASRTT secured their place in the final of the Champions League Women, where they will meet the reigning champions, KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg. The French side recorded a victory against SKST Plus Hodonín in the opening leg in Czechia, but in the return leg, ETIVAL lost after a full five matches.

After almost three hours of play, Marie MIGOT failed to close the match at 2-1 and lost in the decisive fifth match against Natalia PARTYKA. Natalia lost the opening match against Jieni SHAO, but the Portuguese player could not stop Sakura MORI. MORI recorded two wins tonight, also beating MIGOT. In the middle, Camelia IACOB overcame Karin GROFOVA.

In both legs, the atmosphere was fantastic.

"In Czechia we had two very close matches. The atmosphere in Hodonin was amazing. 600 people came, and I know a lot of people there. It was amazing," said MIGOT. "I am proud of my performance and win over MORI. Jieni played a fantastic match against PARTYKA, also very close."

MIGOT then continued with impressions from the second match.

"At home, Camelia played at a superb level, tactically fantastic. It was a turning point; we needed that win. I was not at the top of my game. I am a little sick, but we did it. Here also was great. It was full, 400 people, so warm, so nice; we are all so happy with the success. It was like the handball match. Also, I have to congratulate the team of Hodonin; they made this semi-final great too. And they also lost their luggage, but despite this misfortune, they put up a great fight."


ETIVAL ASRTT - SKST Plus Hodonín 2-3

Jieni SHAO - Natalia PARTYKA 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-5)

Marie MIGOT - Sakura MORI 0-3 (6-11, 5-11, 4-11)

Camelia IACOB - Karin GROFOVA 3-0 (12-10, 11-6, 11-5)

Jieni SHAO - Sakura MORI 1-3 (3-11, 11-6, 6-11, 7-11)

Marie MIGOT - Natalia PARTYKA 2-3 (7-11, 11-6, 13-11, 9-11, 3-6)


SKST Plus Hodonín - ETIVAL ASRTT 1-3

Sakura MORI - Marie MIGOT 2-3 (11-2, 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 2-6)

Natalia PARTYKA - Jieni SHAO 2-3 (8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 0-6)

Karin GROFOVA - Camelia IACOB 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-7)

Sakura MORI - Jieni SHAO 1-3 (7-11, 11-3, 9-11, 9-11)