Hörl/Horst initially defeated their compatriots Laurenz Leitner/Paul Pascariuc (25) 2:1 (18,-19,11) in cloudy but mostly dry weather. The experienced duo, who have 25 years more experience than the ÖVV opponents, found it difficult. “We weren’t happy with the game. We knew we could and had to play better,” said 40-year-old Horst.
In the evening game he and Hörl shook the crowded center court when the duo celebrated a 2:1-(-13,15,13) win against the Spanish routines Pablo Herrera/Adrian Gavira (9) after a deficit and a strong finish . “We didn’t do too much wrong there. With the spectators behind us and the emotions, it’s unbelievable how that went,” Horst said happily.
Seidl/Pristauz (26) beat the Poles Bartosz Losiak/Maciej Rudol (7) 2:1 (22,-14,9) at the start, after that it went 1:2-(20,-19,-11)- Loss against Matthew Immers/Steven Van de Velde (10) from the Netherlands. “You can definitely be satisfied with the performance. We delivered two great matches, unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough in the second one. We’ll give everything tomorrow to reach the top ten,” said Pristauz. The next opponents are now the Englishmen Javier and Joaquim Bello (24).
Leitner/Pascariuc had to say goodbye to the European Championship after losing two games, as did Timo Hammarberg/Tim Berger (27) and Philipp Waller/Martin Ermacora (29). The latter conceded two bitter three-set defeats – first against the number four of the tournament, the French Youssef Krou/Arnaud Gauthier-Rat (-18.19,-11), then against their compatriots Calvin and Quincy Aye (-17.19, -9). “It hurts incredibly. We played such a snot at times,” said a disappointed Ermacora.
Mathias Seiser/Christoph Dressler (30) narrowly missed a sensation. The duo, who only entered the field after cancellations, brought the Swedish title defenders David Åhman/Jonatan Hellvig (3) to the brink of defeat in a 1:2 (18-14-13). Their second match against the Estonians Kusti Nolvak/Mart Tiisaar (19) was lost 1:2 (-14,15,-13).
At the start of the day on the center court, the Klinger sisters were the last remaining ÖVV women’s duo to lose against the defending champions Tina Graudina/Anastasija Samoilova from Latvia with a score of 0:2 (-18,-9). “We knew it was a very difficult draw, you can’t get a much better team in this elimination round,” explained Dorina after the game. “We started really well in the first set and then gave it a bit out of hand ourselves,” said the 26-year-old, whose sister Ronja shed bitter tears after the match. The red-white-red duo now have their sights set on qualifying for the World Cup in Mexico in October. “That would be our season highlight, our first World Cup ever.”
