(by Steve Hopkins)
The Semifinals and Finals of the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup were played in Montreux, Switzerland on Sunday. In the Semifinals, it was Dang Qiu over Pitchford, and Jorgic over Ovtcharov. The script of both matches was similar with tight individual games, but a dominant result for the winner.
Ovtcharov and Jorgic split the first two games and then split the second two games. The tactics of the two players were very different with Ovtcharov playing big spins, but Jorgic countering the spin with blistering flat shots from both sides. Jorgic went up 3-2 with a dominant 11-4 win. Ovtcharov was in the process of answering yet again, but after falling behind by two points late (6-8, then 7-9) Jorgic fought back to tie the score and then win.
In the other Semi, it was Pitchford winning the first game, but then Qui won the next three games. But Pitchford turned the tide by throwing everything into the next two games to tie the score…. only to see Qiu dominate the second half of the final game.
Qiu, the European Champion, and Jorgic, the defending Euro 16 Cup winner then faced off in the Final. Jorgic started off in dominant fashion – creaming balls from both sides and pushing Qiu away from the table. But just as it looked like Jorgic would win in straight games – winning three games in a row – Qui came fighting back. Qiu won Game 4. Qiu won Game 5.
In this case, both players have very fast, very flat attacks. But Qiu’s appears strongest stepping around the backhand and using great footwork to launch those attacks – and when Jorgic is at his best he is seemingly launching his best shots from the center of the table (from either backhand or forehand). And Qiu’s best shots are skill shots with his forehand attacking to Jorgic’s backhand (in rhythm with his body moving around the backhand corner) or with Qiu’s reverse backhand shooting down the line (again – with perfect body position). Jorgic’s style on this day was generally dominant cross-court – just daring the other player to return the strong shots that both knew were coming.
The sixth game featured amazing shot making by both players. Jorgic started with a 4-0 streak of winners, clearly planning to end the match here. Qiu then fought back to get within2 – just to see another flurry of backhand winners by Jorgic. With Jorgic up 10-7, a Qiu ball tips the net and falls long – Darko Jorgic repeats as Euro 16 Champion. The celebration is also a repeat of last year – Darko standing on the table waving to the crowd.
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