2/9/2009       

Poland’s Li Qian and local hero Timo Boll captured gold at the Liebherr Europe Top 12 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

In high quality finals there were countless spectacular rallies.

Eventually Boll and Li won the competition thanks to physical as well as mental strength. Read the text to find out more and click on the ETTU TV to see the finals in full length.

Boll’s Comeback against Eternal Rival Samsonov
Favourite Timo Boll had a slow start in the final against Vladimir Samsonov. The 32 year old Belarusian played in an almost faultless manner and won the first two games 11-5, 11-7. Supported by approximately 2,500 spectators in the Burg-Wächter Costello in Düsseldorf, Boll recovered.

When Boll was 1-3 down after four games, he hit a hot streak. Boll won most of the longer rallies thanks to his better physical shape but it was hard work. Samsonov for his part did not surrender when he was 3-7 down in the seventh game and came back to 7-8.

At the end of proceedings Boll was also the luckier player with several net balls as he won the crucial game 11-9. “That was really a high class match from both of us”, Boll was quoted after securing victory and US $9,000 prize money, “Neither of us deserved to lose. I feel a bit sorry for ‘Vladi’; I also had some more luck.”

Two Defensive Players in the Women’s Final
The match between Boll and Samsonov lasted over one hour, similar to the women’s final.

It was the expected match of patience between the two defensive players. Already in the first game at 8-6, the expedite system came into effect, that meant that the service changed after each rally and the server had to score the point before her 13th stroke.

Effectively the Pole Li Qian proved to have the better offensive skills. “I was so close”, the unlucky loser Li Jie said in an annoyed tone, “I was ahead all the time. Several times I led 10-9 and in the last game 7-3.”

Winner Li Qian was accordingly glad that the match was over after five games. “At the end my concentration broke down. I prefer playing against attacking players. Matches against defensive players are really exhausting and require lots of energy.”

The 22 year old Pole, who was already finalist of the Europe Top 12 last year, won her first big international title. It might not be the last one.

Please click on ETTU TV to see the finals from Düsseldorf.