England’s women were beaten 3-0 by seventh seeds and hosts Croatia as the European Championships got underway in Zadar.
With every Croatian player scoring significantly higher than their English counterparts, it was always going to be a tall order for England to get anything out of the match.
However, Tin-Tin Ho (pictured above with coach Carlo Agnello) hoped to strike an early blow as she won the first match 11-8 against world number 72 Lea Rakovac to fight back from 6-3 down.
The next two matches followed a nearly identical pattern as Rakovac forced an early lead and held it until the finish as she put her nose in front.
Ho (WR 247) took her timeout at 1-4 in the fourth, but to no avail as Rakovac came up with six match points and although Ho saved two, the Croatian completed her 3-1 win.
Tianer Yu (WR 290) started a bit nervously against Hana Arapovic (WR 111) in match two and lost the first four points. She fought back and could have entered the match at 4-6 – only if her opponent won the next five points.
The second was exciting throughout and Yu was the first to earn a game point at 10-9. However, the opportunity could not be taken and Arapovic mercilessly took her own first chance.
Yu led the third 6-0, but had to take her timeout as Arapovic fought back to 6-3. The Croatian led 8-7 and then 10-8. Yu saved the first match point, but not the second.
Jasmin Wong (WR 806) had the dual challenge of facing a player ranked much higher than her and a defender: Ivana Malobabic (WR 118).
Wong started positively to lead 5-2, but once again England’s opponents ruthlessly exposed the gap in the league as Malobabic reeled off eight points in a row to win the first 11-7.
It was a bit of a parade after that as a frustrated Wong could only manage six points in the remaining two games and England’s fate was sealed.
Their remaining match in Group G is against ninth-placed team Italy on Tuesday at 12pm UK time.
Wales started their campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Group A leaders Romania, despite Anna Hursey almost turning her match against Andreea Dragoman, eventually winning 3-2 (12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9). Adina Diaconu carried Charlotte Carey on four in the opening match and Elizabeta Samara completed the win with a 3-0 victory over Danielle Kelly.
Results
Women’s group G
Croatia 3 England 0
3-1 tin-tin ho 3-1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6)
3-0 (11-4-10, 11-9)
Ivana Malobac
#Host #country #Croatia #strong #England #European #Championship #Table #Tennis #England