As has been so often the case in the past Pablo Abian proved pivotal in Recreativo Ies la Orden making yet another European Clubs quarter final after securing points in men’s singles and mixed doubles against local favourites UKS Hubal Bialystok this afternoon.
When the teams were announced it was clear that the Spanish Champions were going to need the first three matches of the tie to get to the knockout stages. In what was the match of the tournament so far Abian teamed up with Haidee Ojeda in the opening mixed doubles beating Laura Sarosi and Pawel Smilowski 25-23 in the deciding set after saving 5 match points.
Telma Santos (pictured below after victory) followed in the women’s singles in her best performance of the championships to date taking down Alesia Zaitsava before Abain got his second point of the afternoons play beating Adrian Dziolko, a player he beat just last week at the Madrid International.
- I am tired now after two tough matches and of course we knew that the mixed doubles to start was always going to be the key. We stayed calm in crucial periods of that match and both Telma & I knew then we could win in the singles said Abian after is victory.
Bialystok did take the remaining women’s and men’s doubles but it was a case of too little to late and the hosts leave the competition at the group stages.
Issy Les Moulineaux topped group 1 on the adjoining court beating Moss BK of Norway 5-0 and will be joined in the quarter final draw by Locomotiva Kosice of Slovakia.