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 European
Individual
Championships 2008
04-07 June, Bratislava, Slovakia |
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Photos from Philippe Signoret .... thanks! |
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07-Jun, Finals and Playoffs:
3/4: Manuela
Manetta (Ita) bt Camille Serme (Fra)
11/9, 12/10, 12/10
Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) bt Adrian Grant (Eng) 11/4,
11/2, 11/7
Finals: Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) bt Sarah Kippax (Eng)
5/11, 11/6, 11/7, 11/4
Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt Thierry Lincou (Fra)
11/7, 6/11, 11/7, 4/11, 11/4
Men's Draw
5/16
17/32
33/45
Women's Draw
5/16
17/30
Slovakian
TV report on the Finals |
It's a French double
in Bratislava
 France
claimed a unique double in the European Individual Championships in
Bratislava as Isabelle Stoehr secured her first title while
Gregory Gaultier claimed a remarkable fifth successive gold
medal.
Stoehr, runner-up in 2006 and 2007, came from a game down to beat
England's Sarah Kippax while Gaultier maintained his recent good
record against compatriot Thierry Lincou to win the men's final in
five games.
More to follow, we hope ...
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 "It
was a very tight match. I think we didn’t play too badly, despite
the tiredness of the end of the season. I wish to thank the
organization, along with the French Federation Team that has been
supporting us throughout the week. And of course, I want to thank my
own support team as well.
"I want to congratulate Isabelle for her first title, and the whole
of the French Team for their excellent performance during this
championship. And now, we’re all going to get some well deserved
rest!"
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|
 "That’s
it! Done! Ouf! That was far from being easy. In the final I didn’t
play my best squash, and if Sarah took an excellent start, I as ever
didn’t…
"I was just never able to shake my stress in this match, except for
the match ball where I went for a cross court volley forehand nick…
But it’s so hard to play when tense!!!! Mind you, I did it, I guess
that’s all that matters, as it’s easier when you are the challenger,
whereas on this occasion the pressure was on me. Still I was able to
manage it, and reach my goal.
"Nobody more than me is aware of the absence of the top English
Players, of Vanessa Atkinson and Madeline Perry, but as it’s my
first major title after my British Junior Open and the World
University champs, I’m appreciating this title to its true value!
 "For
a few months now, I’ve got some good results, I’m not playing too
bad, although a lot of things still need to be worked on. Still,
it’s encouraging. But I want to go further on the international
circuit, and if these past months let me glance at what I could
achieve, I’m fully aware that things are just not going to happen,
and that I’ve got to work very hard at it!
"These moment are magic in the life of a sportswoman, and listening
to the Marseillaise gives you goosebumps all over… Just for that
moment, you want to get back on that podium as soon as!
"I’ve got a few more matches to play this season, our Play-Offs in
Rennes, then a WISPA in Sannois, France.
"But right this minute, I’m enjoying the moment…"
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06-Jun,
Semi-finals:
[1] Isabelle Stoehr (Fra) bt [3/4] Manuela Manetta (Ita)
4/11, 11/4, 11/4, 11/7
[3/4] Sarah Kippax (Eng) bt [5/8] Camille Serme (Fra)
11/13, 11/4, 11/5, 11/13, 11/8
[1] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) bt [3/4] Adrian Grant (Eng)
12/10, 11/9, 11/5
[2] Thierry Lincou (Fra) bt [3/4] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned)
11/5, 11/8, 11/3 |
Three French Finalists
in Bratislava ...
Since the European Individual Championships was resurrected in 2004
the men's event has always been won by a Frenchman.
Another French gold medal is assured in tomorrow's final as
Gregory Gaultier - winner of the last four championships - and
Thierry Lincou both won their semi-finals in straight games.
Women's top seed Isabelle Stoehr made it three French
finalists as she recovered from a game down to beat Italy's Manuela
Manetta.
Stoehr is guaranteed a better finish than her bronze medals in 2006
and 2007, and will meet England's Sarah Kippax in the final.
Kippax denied a French clean sweep as she overcame three-time
European Junior Champion Camille Serme in a see-saw five game match.
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All of our news is coming from
the French camp (En
Français)
If anyone else has any
news:
eic@squashsite.co.uk |
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 "Can’t
believe it’s already semis time. Well today, I was facing Adrian for
a place in the final. It was a very disputed encounter for the first
two games. I think that I managed the important points better at the
end of the games.
"Won’t stay as our best match ever, but we just did what what we had
to do on the day…
"Tomorrow, last match, last day, and I hope to close the first part
of the season on a positive note."
 "I’m
happy to be in the final, my first ever…
"Tonight was a good and solid match, and it’s a good result.
"Tomorrow will be our last match of the season. May the best win
..."
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THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Once again, the only info we are getting are through the French
Connection, so sorry if my little reports seem a bit biased…!
In the playoffs Renan, recovered from two tough matches, was able to
beat a Mark Krajcsack who was a bit deflated after his good
performances the day before. The Frenchman pushed his opponent well
to the back and tired him at the front with boasts and drop shots.
If Renan lost a bit of concentration in the second, he sailed
through comfortably after that, always keeping his nose in front.
For Greg, Adrian was able to prevent the Frenchman from volleying by
some excellent length and width, and imposed his rhythm to the
match. Still, it’s Greg who was able to close it out each time…
As for Thierry, contrary to the day before, he took an excellent
start, putting LJ under a lot of pressure with his volleying and his
tight shots in particular on the left side wall. LJ was pushed to
make the errors, and although the second was a bit more disputed,
Thierry found 7 winners for only 2 unforced errors in the third,
allowing him to get a comfortable 3/0 victory.
Now for the girls…
Isabelle took a not too good start, which allowed Italian Manuela to
put the number one seed under pressure. Still, Isa was able to find
her touch and length, in particular on her opponent’s forehand.
While taking the control of the T, Isabelle was able to impose her
game, and tune her famous touch.
For Camille, she played at the same level as Sarah. She made a few
wrong choices at crucial times, but got rid of her “junior” game,
which is a good sign for the future, as she’s got so much to learn,
says her coach Philippe Signoret…
Well, to conclude, France came very close to a “full basket”, but
after all, three out of four, not too bad, is it?
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 "I
came very close, but unfortunately, I lost. I was really
disappointed right after the match as it was a very close game that
was within my reach.
"But overall, I had a good championship, and I hope to end on a good
match tomorrow. It will be hard again, but I really would like to be
on the podium, there is a medal to fight for…"
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 "I’m
in the final of the European individuals for the first time, and
whatever happens now, I will have done better than the previous
years. But I intend to give it all to get on the top step of that
podium…
"My two first matches were anything but easy, and we only learned
quite late that we were playing to 11. But it’s OK, I was able to
manage well.
"Yesterday I started poorly against Manuela, and points string away
so far when your brain is not connected!!! But I was able to get
back under control, got some good length in, and that made the
difference. Manue is a very good player, so I’m happy with the
scoreline.
"Today, I’m playing against Sarah, from memory it will be our first
meeting, so an interesting encounter… I’m feeling good, I love
playing on the glass court… It’s nothing but pleasure…
"Just one more…"
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Men's Round Three
05 Jun |
Quarters
05 Jun |
Semis
06
Jun |
Final
07 Jun |
[1] Gregory
Gaultier (Fra)
11/8, 11/9, 11/8
Andrea Capella (Ita) |
[1] Gregory Gaultier
11/1, 11/6, 11/4
[5/8] Joey Barrington |
[1] Gregory Gaultier
12/10, 11/9, 11/5
[3/4] Adrian Grant |
[1] Gregory Gaultier
11/7, 6/11, 11/7, 4/11, 11/4
[2] Thierry Lincou |
[5/8] Joey
Barrington (Eng)
11/9, 11/9, 13/11
[9/16] Dylan Bennett (Ned) |
[5/8] Borja Golan
(Esp)
7/11, 11/7, 11/2, 11/5
[9/16] Simon Rosner (Ger) |
[5/8] Borja Golan
11/9, 11/3, 9/11, 11/7
[3/4] Adrian Grant |
[3/4] Adrian Grant
(Eng)
11/6, 11/4, 3/11, 11/3
[9/16] Aqeel Rehman (Aut) |
[9/16] Jakob
Dirnberger (Aut)
11/1, 11/3, 11/4
[3/4] Laurens Jan Anjema (Ned) |
[3/4] Laurens Jan Anjema
11/8, 6/11, 8/11, 11/2
[5/8] Renan Lavigne |
[3/4] Laurens Jan Anjema
11/5, 11/8, 11/3
[2] Thierry Lincou |
[9/16] Alister
Walker (Eng)
11/3, 6/11, 11/7, 5/11, 11/6
[5/8] Renan Lavigne (Fra) |
[9/16] Mark Krajcsak (Hun)
11/9, 11/4, 11/13, 11/6
[5/8] Jonathan Kemp (Eng) |
[9/16] Mark Krajcsak
11/9, 7/11, 11/7, 11/2
[2] Thierry Lincou |
[9/16] Arthur Gaskin
(Irl)
11/4, 11/5, 11/8
[2] Thierry Lincou (Fre) |
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2nd round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Roman Dolynych (UKR) 11-5, 11-4,
11-5
Andrea Capella (ITA) bt [9/16] David Vidal (ESP) 3-11, 11-7, 11-4,
12-10
[9/16] Dylan Bennett (NED) bt Domagoj Spoljar (CRO) 11-8, 11-4,
11-3
[5/8] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt Tomas Toth (SVK) 11-4, 11-6, 11-3
[5/8] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Michelangelo Bertocchi (ITA) 11-4, 11-5,
11-4
[9/16] Simon Rosner (GER) bt Roman Celler (SVK) 11-4, 11-3, 11-6
[9/16] Aqeel Rehman (AUT) bt Piedro Schweertman (NED) 5-11, 11-9,
11-4, 11-8
[3/4] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt Peter Kviecinsky (SVK) 11-3, 11-2, 11-5
[3/4] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt Andre Lima (POR) 11-2, 11-1, 11-6
[9/16] Jakob Dirnberger (AUT) bt Pavel Sladecek (CZE) 10-12, 12-10,
5-11, 12-10, 11-5
[9/16] Alister Walker (ENG) bt Wim van Asten (BEL) 11-7, 11-9, 11-7
[5/8] Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt Alexei Severinov (RUS) 11-4, 11-6,
11-2
[5/8] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) bt Anthony Brindle (GIB) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7
[9/16] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) bt Marek Manik (SVK) 11-8, 11-2, 11-5
[9/16] Arthur Gaskin (IRL) bt Rene Mijs (NED) 11-4, 11-7, 11-8
[2] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Dmytro Shcherbakov (UKR) 11-7, 11-6,
11-4
1st round:
Roman Dolynych (UKR) bt Atilla Dobai (SVK) 13-11, 11-9, 6-11,
11-7
Domagoj Spoljar (CRO) bt Konstantinos Kargiotis (GRE) 11-7, 11-6,
11-5
Tomas Toth (SVK) bt Valery Litvinko (RUS) 11-2, 12-10, 11-2
Michelangelo Bertocchi (ITA) bt Rusian Sorochynskvi (UKR) 11-4,
11-8, 11-9
Roman Celler (SVK) bt Marton Szaboky (HUN) w/o
Piedro Schweertman (NED) bt Sergey Kostrykin (RUS) 11-3, 11-0, 11-2
Peter Kviecinsky (SVK) bt Lukasz Nitka (POL) 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3
Andre Lima (POR) bt Miroslav Celler (SVK) 11-8, 11-8, 12-10
Wim van Asten (BEL) bt Kostyantyn Rybalchenko (UKR) 11-2, 11-2,
11-2
Alexei Severinov (RUS) bt Marcin Kozik (POL) 11-4, 11-3, 11-7
Anthony Brindle (GIB) bt Martin Kostolansky (SVK) 11-7, 11-4, 8-11,
7-11, 11-3
Marek Manik (SVK) bt Pavel Efimov (RUS) w/o
Dmytro Shcherbakov (UKR) bt Nikolas Paphitis (CYP) 11-6, 11-2,
6-11, 11-8
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Women's Round Two
05 Jun |
Quarters
05 Jun |
Semis
06
Jun |
Final
07 Jun |
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[1] Isabelle Stoehr (Fra)
11/7, 11/2, 11/6
[9/16] Elisabet Sado Garriga (Esp) |
[1]
Isabelle Stoehr
11/5, 11/5, 11/9
[9/16] Maud Duplomb |
[1]
Isabelle Stoehr 4/11,
11/4, 11/4, 11/7
[3/4] Manuela Manetta |
[1]
Isabelle Stoehr 5/11,
11/6, 11/7, 11/4
[3/4] Sarah Kippax |
[5/8] Milja Dorenbos (Ned)
11/13, 11/4, 11/6, 11/5
[9/16] Maud Duplomb (Fra) |
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[5/8] Lauren Siddall (Eng)
11/6, 11/4, 11/6
[9/16] Birgit Coufal (Aut) |
[5/8] Lauren Siddall
5/11, 6/11, 12/10,
11/4, 11/8
[3/4] Manuela Manetta |
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[3/4] Manuela Manetta (Ita)
11/4, 11/4, 11/8
Linda Hruzikova (Svk) |
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Margaux Moros-Pitarch (Esp)
11/1, 11/6, 11/0
[3/4] Sarah Kippax (Eng) |
[3/4] Sarah Kippax
11/7, 11/7, 11/7
[5/8] Orla Noom |
[3/4] Sarah Kippax
11/13, 11/4, 11/5, 11/13, 11/8
[5/8] Camille Serme |
[9/16] Kerri Shields (Irl)
11/8, 11/3, 11/6
[5/8] Orla Noom (Ned) |
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[9/16] Dagmar Vermeulen (Ned)
11/3, 11/5, 11/7
[5/8] Camille Serme (Fra) |
[5/8] Camille Serme
2/11, 11/4, 11/7, 6/11, 11/8
[2] Annelize Naude |
Pamela Hathway (Ger)
11/7, 12/10, 11/1
[2] Annelize Naude (Ned) |
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Women's 1st round:
[9/16] Elisabet Sado Garriga
(ESP) bt Olga Ertlova (CZE) 11-9, 11-6, 12-10
[9/16] Maud Duplomb (FRA) bt Andrea Malinova (SVK)
11-5, 11-3, 11-6
[5/8] Milja Dorenbos (NED) bt Vaso Karasava (CYP)
11-6, 11-5, 11-4
[5/8] Lauren Siddall (ENG) bt Liliana Hruzikova (SVK)
11-3, 11-5, 11-3
[9/16] Birgit Coufal (AUT) bt Dominika Witkowska
(POL) 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
Linda Hruzikova (SVK) bt [9/16] Kim Hannes-Teunen
(BEL) 11-9, 11-5, 11-7
[3/4] Manuela Manetta (ITA) bt Isabell Schoor
(IOM) 11-6, 11-2, 11-7
[3/4] Sarah Kippax (ENG) bt Aneta Paprnakova (SVK)
11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5
Margaux Moros-Pitarch (ESP) bt [9/16] Pamela
Pancis (AUT) 11-5, 11-6, 11-5
[9/16] Kerri Shields (IRL) bt Diana Leguss (EST)
11-2, 11-5, 11-2
[5/8] Orla Noom (NED) bt Ekatarina Glinchikova (RUS)
w/o
[5/8] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Ivana Blazekova (SVK)
11-3, 11-0, 11-3
[9/16] Dagmar Vermeulen (NED) bt Eliza Kargioti
(GRE) 11-3, 11-1, 11-5
Pamela Hathway (GER) bt [9/16] Victoria Lust
(ENG) 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10
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05-Jun, Day Two:
Down to the
semis
Thursday was the busiest day, with two rounds of play for both men
and women which left us with the semi-finalists.
The biggest upset of the day came as France's Camille Serme
overcame second seed Annelize Naude in a five game quarter-final to
record the best win of her brief senior career.
Further French success came as defending men's champion Gregory
Gaultier, second seed Thierry Lincou and women's
top seed Isabelle Stoehr eased through to the semi-finals -
what price two all-French finals ??? |
A
FRENCH POINT OF VIEW
Well, the very least we can say is that news from Bratislava is
scarce!
Thanks to my compatriots Philippe Signoret and André
Delhoste, our two National coaches, and French number one and
two Greg and Thierry we have an idea of what’s going on
there, although it’s a bit of puzzle sometimes!
From what I understand from the coaches reports, LJ Anjema
got an easy ride to the quarters against Jakob Dirnberger, whereas
Renan Lavigne had a heavy battle, tinted with revenge from
Canary Wharf, against Strong Alister Walker. Although Renan
beat Ali in 5, I guess it must have been pretty hard to take on LJ
the same day, only hours later…
Still, those matches have got to be won, and that’s what LJ did
beautifully, although Renan prevented him from volleying in the
first game, only to play too short in the second, giving LJ both the
T and his confidence back…
The third was so close, but Renan put a volley in the tin that could
have given him a 9/9 score, and he didn’t have much left in the
fourth…
For Greg, the first real test was against Joey Barrington in the
quarters. If the Frenchman lost a bit of speed in the
second, a much slower than normal Barrington was not able to put
enough pressure on his opponent today. Greg will be fresh to face
Adrian Grant, who lost only one game against Borja Golan.
Former World number one Thierry Lincou started as well as he normally does,
and André tells us that it took a good three games for the Frenchman
to play at his normal speed, against a fired up Mark Krajcsak
after his unexpected victory against Joey Kemp earlier in the
day. The French coach was very impressed by the Hungarian's
performance.
Now to the Ladies. As Philippe noticed, “we’ve got two French ladies
in the semis, confirming the French progression on the European
circuit”.
The surprise, of course, didn’t come from Isabelle Stoehr,
number one seed, who was playing compatriot Maud Duplomb -
who still made her teammate work up a good sweat at times -
Isa will now play Manuela Manetta, who battled hard to get
rid of Lauren Siddall in five…
No, of course, the surprise comes from Camille Serme, who had
lost the two encounters she had this season against seed number two
Annelize Naude. And after a terrible start, all thought
“never two without three”, as the French say.
But maybe Annelize relaxed too much, allowing the young French girl
to go for her shots, and take both confidence and momentum. An
hour-long game, a very clever end of game from the Netherlander, but
a young Camille who fought for every point.
In the semi-final she plays Sarah Kippax who will have to
adapt quickly to this Pro-Scoring, as Wispa calls it, as she
is sometimes prone to find the tin too many times in a row… Camille
has never beaten the English lady, and will have to play at her
utmost best tomorrow to hope for an all French final…
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Gaultier goes for a fifth
The European Individual Championships, revived in 2004, return to
Eastern Europe this year as France's Gregory Gaultier aims to
maintain his unbeaten record in the competition.
The world number two triumphed in Bratislava three years ago and
went on to retain the title in Prague, Budapest and last year at
home in Royan.
His expected opponent in the final is compatriot Thierry Lincou,
although both face tough potential semi-finals against either
Adrian Grant or Laurens Jan Anjema.
In the women's event France's Isabelle Stoehr, who finished
third in 2007 and 2006, is top seed with Holland's Annelize Naude
seeded two.
The championships will be the first ESF event to use PAR to 11
scoring. |
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"So
far so good...
"I
just played my first match on the glass court against Joey. It
allowed me to find my marks. I was able to manage that match rather
well, and I’m not unhappy with my day!
