Romania performed the recovery of the afternoon in Group A of the Championship Division in the Men's Team event at the Evergrande World Team Championships on Tuesday 26th February 2008.
In Guangzhou, they trailed Italy by two matches to nil after Andrei Filimon had lost in four games to Mihai Bobocica and Adrian Crisan had suffered by the same margin against Yang Min.
Staring defeat in the face, Constantin Cioti led the recovery; he beat Stefano Tomasi in four games, Adrian Crisan followed suit to overcome Mikhai Bobocica by the same margin and Andrei Filimon completed the recovery with success over Yang Min.
He won in three straight games.
Foto de Remy Gros
Easy Mistakes
"I didn't play that well in my first match against Yang Min", sighed Adrian Crisan. "He played well and I made easy mistakes, it's as simple as that."
However, Adrian Crisan re-grouped and in his second match a more positive and a very determined player entered the arena.
"I lost the first game against Mihai Bobocica but then I played much better", continued Adrian Crisan. "I was fine; of course we know each other well, we both play for the same club in Germany."
The two club mates represent the powerful German League club, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen.
Sleepy Andrei
Also, it was a similar situation for Andrei Filimon who on the previous day had excelled to beat Chinas Wang Liqin, the reigning World champion.
"Against Mihai Bobocica I went to sleep, I didn't wake up until the third game and by that time it was too late", smiled Andrei Filimon. "He's younger than me and he was under no pressure, he played very freely, very well."
Pressure Match
Two losses and then two wins for Adrian Crisan and Andrei Filimon but without the efforts of Constantin Cioti in the number three berth it would have been two losses full stop!
He won the high pressure match when Romania trailed by two matches to nil.
Reached Level
"It wasn't any easy match by any means, we were down two-nil", explained Constantin Cioti. "I tried to play my game and I'm pleased how I played, I think I played to my level."
A close win for Romania but the verdicts in the other two matches in the group were anything but close.
Status Endorsed
China endorsed their billing as the tournament favourites by beating Croatia three-nil and Austria dealt out the same punishment to Belgium who elected to rest the Saive brothers.
Wang Liqin gave China the start they needed by beating Rojko Tosic in straight games, Ma Lin followed suit with a four games victory over Andrei Gacina and without the loss of a single game Wang Hao ended matters with victory over teenager Borna Kovac.
Austrian Wins
Meanwhile in the contest between Austria and Belgium, Robert Gardos won in four games against Yannick Vostes, Werner Schlager succeeded in a full distance contest when facing Martin Bratanov and Chen Weixing drew down the curtain with victory over teenager, Benjamin Rogiers.
Articol publicat de Ian Marshall pe site-ul Federatiei Internationale de Tenis de Masa.