Semi-finals day at the 2014 European men’s and women’s team championships was tough to take from a German point of you as the men went down in the first match of the day against England before the Defending German ladies came unstuck a resolute Russian side led by Anastasia Chervaykova.
Things looked to be going according to plan for Germany as Karin Schnasse took the opening singles against Natalia Perminova. That win ended up being one of very few highlights for Germany as disaster struck in the second singles when Olga Konon retired through injury. Heartbreak indeed for the Germany who only returned this week from 9 months out in a career that has been hampered so much by injury.
The match was crying out for a heroine at that point and young Anastasia Chervaykova proved to be that person taking the third singles in two games against Fabienne Deprez. Leading 2-1 in overall games the Russians looked to be in control in the subsequent doubles match with Vislova and Morozova leading 17-13 in the deciding set against Nelte & Herttrich. The battling Germans somehow managed to pull the match out of the fire and take the tie into a deciding first doubles winning 8 from the last 9 points in the game to the dismay of the Olympic bronze medallist Vislova.
Germany had every reason to be confident heading into the final match with seasoned veterans Michels and Goliszewski handed the task of getting the stuttering Germans across the line. After all the world number 26 pair should in theory cruise home against a young Russian duo with no world ranking and no pedigree.
Team matches have an annoying habit of throwing up some left of field results and today was to be one of those days. Anastasia Chervaykova was back on court this time alongside Ekaterina Bolotova and the large crowd sensed a big upset when the Russians took the first set 21-16.
Chervaykova and Bolotova had the opportunity to wrap the match up in two games until a strange turn of events broke their concentration while level at 19-19 Bolotova started her service action but stopped as she saw Birgit Michels move before she actually started to serve. The Umpire saw it as a foul serve with a double motion and gave the point to Germany without the shuttle been hit. The Germans took the game 21-19 with the overall tie balanced on a knife edge.
The Russians settled quickly in the deciding set and raced into 15-6 lead and all looked lost again for Germany just as it did in the earlier doubles. The pressure was immense and the tension could be felt throughout the hall and with every rally the Germans once again started to close the gap. It was not until leading by a solitary point at 17-16 that the Russians stopped the wave of momentum against them and managed to see out the match 21-19 to send Russian through to the final.
“This was a great day for me and my team. We were very nervous in the doubles but we just kept listening to our coach and tried to stay relaxed and stick to the tactic, this was a difficult thing to do with the noise and atmosphere.” Said Chervaykova after her victory.
“Now we are in the final and for sure Denmark are the favourites but we will fight like we did today for gold and we will not make it easy for our opponents”.
Ouseph inspires England to an historic win
If there was a player of the tournament award at this year’s championships without doubt England’s Rajiv Ouseph would claim the prize as once again the gentle giant maintained his 100% winning record this time over European champion Marc Zwiebler.
Ouseph is the quintessential team player and a quintessentially mature performance set his England team en route to their first final since 2008 in The Netherlands.
Chris Adcock and Andy Ellis followed Ousephs win with a tight 2 games victory over German veterans Fuchs and Schoettler. Before the animated duo of Mills and Langridge sealed the deal for England defeating Kindervarter and Kaesbauer in the second doubles.
“Rajiv’s match was always going to be crucial but we know with Rajiv that team events always bring the best out of him so we were confident he would deliver” said Andy Ellis
“We knew when we won our match that anything was now possible with a 2-0 lead. Experience is vital in these situations and Pete and Chris delivered” said Chris Adcock.
Danish men ended Finland’s fairy-tale run to a medal as Boe and Mogensen got their first taste of tournament action this week while their female counterparts broke Bulgaria early on taking the first two singles before running out 3-1 winners with Røpke and Kruse sealing the vital third point for Denmark.
For all Result from today’s play in Basel CLICK HERE
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Final line ups as follows:
11.00am EWTC Denmark (1) V Russia (4)
3.00pm EMTC Denmark (1) V England (3)
Article by Mark Phelan (Live in Basel). Photo by BadmintonPhoto.