Barbora Balazova Justifies Top Billing to Secure Antwerp Title
Successful in previous years on the ITTF Junior Circuit, the Slovak Republic’s 20 year old Barbora Balazova won the Under 21 Women’s Singles title at the ITTF Euro-Africa Circuit Flanders Open in Antwerp on Friday 28th September 2012.
At the final hurdle she beat Alina Arlouskaya of Belarus in a close seven games duel (11-13, 11-4, 12-14, 11-9, 7-11, 11-1, 11-6), having at the semi-final stage ousted Laura Gasnier of France, the no.3 seed (11-3, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9) and Marina Berho, the no.7 seed, also from France in the quarter-finals (11-8, 11-4, 11-9, 11-3).
Victory for Barbora Balazova was as the seeding predicted.
However, a place in the final for Alina Arlouskaya was a surprise.
Surprise Finalist Not seeded, she ousted Alice Abbat of France, the no.2 seed in the second round (11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 11-4), before recording a quarter-final success against Romania’s Andrada Vincze (11-9, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8) and a penultimate round win over Germany’s Nina Mittelham, the no.4 seed (5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7).
Improved "Alina didn't start well in this tournament, we had a difficult trip and not enough sleep but she is playing better and better”, said Tatiana Petkevitch, the coach of the Belarus National Women’s Team after Alina Arrlouskaya had beaten Nina Mittelham. “This is the first time Alina has beaten Nina.”
A fine win and it was to some extent a watershed.
Defeats at European Youth Championships “During the European Youth Championships in July, she lost twice in the decisive game; today, she didn't start well against Nina”, added Tatiana Petkevitch. “At two games to nil down and 1-4 in arrears in the third game I called for a Time Out and told her to change a few things.”
It proved sound advice.
Change of Tactics “I told her to return more to the forehand, play faster backspin strokes to each side”, continued Tatiana Petkevitch. “After that, the game went better, even on the attack side but it still wasn't an easy win."
Hard Fought Contest A hard fought semi-final duel and it had been the same for Barbora Balazova against Laura Gasnier.
"This was one of the hardest matches in this tournament to date”, reflected Barbora Balazova. “I started well technically but lost my concentration after having a two-nil lead, at two-all I started to focus more on my own game and tried to open as much as possible with my forehand topspin; I have a much better chance when I am the active player."
Not Satisfied A positive approach yields results time and again; it yielded success for Barbora Balazova who was pleased to have negotiated the semi-final hurdle but felt she could have played better.
"I am still not so satisfied with the game I play”, she said. “However, I try to compensate that with my head"
Not satisfied but by clinching the title it was a most satisfactory end to the day.
A Lucky End “I had to fight against myself in this final and I seemed to have a lucky end; whenever I was on that end of the table, I managed to win the games, at the other end, I always had a bad start”, said Barbora Balazova. “Alina played really well; ultimately, when I got to my good end again, she tried to be more aggressive, took more risks and made mistakes."
A lucky end; they say you make your own luck and Barbora Balazova seized the opportunities and emerged success, the Under 21 Women’s Singles champion in Antwerp.
