by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Thorn in the side of the Czech Republic outfit was Jamila Laurenti, she accounted for both Stanislava Slezakova (11-5, 11-8, 11-3) and Zdena Blaskova (11-4, 12-10, 12-10).

However, those were to be the only successes enjoyed by the Italians. Martina Nino was beaten by both Zdena Blaskova (11-6, 11-6, 11-1) and in the vital fifth match of the fixture by Stanislava Slezakova (11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 13-11). The one further success for the Czech Republic came in the third match of the engagement when Katerina Cechova accounted for Valentina Roncallo (11-7, 11-6, 12-10).

“I was really angry that I lost to Jamila, I played badly; she plays with anti-topspin rubber on one side of the racket. I don’t like playing against that style of play. In the last match I was really stressed but I made it.” Stanslava Slezakova

“I played Jamila two weeks ago at the Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open; I lost four-one, so it was very much in my mind that I was going to lose again today. Martina, I’d never played her before so I didn’t know what to expect. I had to control myself not to play “bomba”; after I won the first game I wanted to play “bomba” but I tried to control my play and put the ball on the table.”Zdena Blaskova

“I had never played Valentina before, so everything was a surprise; this morning I had been sick, so I’m pleased with the outcome.” Katerina Cehova.

Earlier in the day the Czech Republic trio had beaten Australia’s Holly Nicolas, Matilda Alexandersson and Parleen Kaur by three matches to nil; Italy with Macela Delasa preferred to Martina Nino had recorded a three-one success in opposition the Oceania outfit.