Kolocová/Kvapilová (CZE), the highest placed team of poule F, played their last poule match against the Finnish duo Lehtonen/Ahtiainen, who placed eleventh. Both teams started the tournament well with two wins. The Finnish team won the match after three sets and became the poule winner. They are placed directly for the final sixteen. Kolocová/Kvapilová now have to play a repechage match against the number three from another poule.
The teams competed against each other once before, ending in a 2-1 win for the Czech ladies. Today’s match started with Kolocová/Kvapilová taking the lead. With difficult serves and diagonal shots they put Lehtonen and Ahtiainen under pressure. The result was clear: 21-12 for the Czech Republic. It seemed to become an easy win for Kolocová and Kvapilová.
But in the second set, the game turned around. Finland took the lead with more pressure in their serves and by well placed shots. Even though the Czech team managed to tie the score again at 10-10, they didn’t succeed in taking the lead again. The third set also started with an
advantage for Lehtonen/Ahtiainen. By the end of the set, both teams fought really hard for each point. The set could turn both ways. At a score of 14-12 advantage, Finland took a time out because they lost a few match points in a row. Directly after the time out, the match was decided with a fault serve by the Czechs.
Both players and the coach agreed on the match: service was very important. “In the first set we could really put the Finnish team under pressure with our serve”, they conclude. “In the second set, they served better and we had some difficulties with reception and setting.
Kolocová/Kvapilová now have to play an extra match against the number three from another poule: Ukolova/Birlova (RUS). If they manage to win that match, they will reach the last sixteen.
