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Men's final
[3/4] Pavel Sládeček vt [3/4] Lukáš Jelínek 11/3 6/11
11/4 11/6 (52m)
Women's final
[1] Olga Ertlová bt [2] Lucie Fialová 14/12 11/8 7/11
11/2 (41m)
New Champions crowned in Prague
Tomas Forter reports
The finals day programme started with women's final between
Olga Ertlova and Lucie Fialova.
Olga started better, got to 10/6 but Lucie was able to force
a tie-break only to lose the game 12/14. Olga kept the
momentum in the second game and won it 11/8. In the third
Olga slowed down a bit and Lucie got in control with her
hard hitting and won the game.
In the fourth Olga got a great start and won comfortably.
After two losses in the final in past years she was able to
celebrate her first title.
 "I am very
happy I finally managed to win the title. I was much less
nervous than last year. I played well for two games but I
started to play too safe in the third.
"Lucie got back into it and started to push me. At the
beginning of the fourth I said to myself I had to push hard
at the start and get a good lead. I managed to do exactly
that and it decided."
Olga Ertlova
"I think I didn't play too badly. It was not right
tactically. Today was just not my day. Watch out for me next
year."
Lucie Fialova
The men's final featured two
players who never played the Nationals final before as
yesterday's hero Lukas Jelinek played Pavel
Sladecek.
Lukas started very nervously. In the first four rallies he
hit the tin four times which was probably more than in the
whole semifinal against Jan Koukal yesterday.
Pavel played his typical high pace and was in control for
the first game and a half. Lukas started to claw back in the
second. Middle of the game was very intense as both players
knew it was very important. Lukas finally won it and
levelled.
In the third Pavel played really well. Lukas tried to push
him to all four corners but Pavel was retrieving very well
and when he got the chance he really made Lukas work hard.
Lukas started to feel it in the third. Pavel won it and led
2/1. Fourth game was close till the middle but Lukas made a
series of 5 unforced errors to give Pavel 10/5 lead. He only
needed one matchball to win his first national title.
 "I am very
happy with this result. My goal was to reach the final. I
knew I would have tough quarters against Petr Martin and it
was really tough as I had to come back from 0/2 down. I was
more confident against Martin Stepan in the semi as I beat
him last time we played.
I was very surprised when Lukas beat Kouki. I was well
preparing for the final. I was very focused and patient.
Lukas made much more mistakes and that was the difference. I
felt really strong mentally the whole tournament and I gave
it all I had.
I improved my training after last year's nationals. I was
training the
whole year with my new coach Maciej Klis."
"It's a shame. After yesterday's performance I believed I
could win. Yesterday it was extremely good performance and
it was very difficult to repeat it.
"Congratulations and hats off to Pavel. I don't think he
ever played that well against me in the past. I was
struggling with my movement from the beginning. I wasn't
feeling well physically. I got tired very quickly.
"Maybe next year ..."
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