Marcos Freitas

The Portuguese Marcos Freitas and the Croatian Andrej Gacina lost today in the Semi Final Men’s Doubles competition at the German Open, an event that ends tomorrow Sunday, in Berlin. After having beaten in the quarter finals the Czech Tomas Konecny and Dmitrij Prokopcov in five games, the European pair lost against the powerful and experienced Chinese pair formed by two players from the World’s Top ten and no.4 seed Hao Shuai and Zhang Jike. Freitas and Gacina lost after a five games duel with the margins of 11-13, 7-11, 9-11, 11-6 and 8-11. Freitas and Gacina were the only European pairing surrounded by three strong Chinese pairs and achieved a brilliant and honorable third place in the Men’s Doubles event in Berlin.

photo: by courtesy of the ITTF

The Portuguese Marcos Freitas and the Croatian Andrej Gacina, continued their good form in their second round of proceedings in the Men’s Doubles event and booked their semi-final place on Saturday 20th March 2010 at the German Open in Berlin. Marcos Freitas is also the only Portuguese player that is still competing in Berlin. Today, in the Quarter Final, 21 year old Marcos Freitas ranked no. 89, and Croatia’s 23 year old Andrej Gacina ranked no. 60 has beaten the Czech pairing of Tomas Konecny (no. 173) / Dmitrij Prokopcov (no. 95), in five games with the margins of 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10. With this deserving victory the pair reached the Semi Final where is going to defeat today at 20h45 PM, the powerful pairing supremely experienced and very talented Chinese players pair Hao Shuai and Zhang Jike, the no.4 seed and currently ranked number seven and twelve of World, respectively. To be not that Freitas and Gacina are now the only European players in the men’s doubles competition, since three Chinese pairs book the semi-final places.

photo: by courtesy of the ITTF

Marcos Freitas and Andrej Gacina were the players to cause the upsets as proceedings commenced in the Men’s Doubles event at the German Open in Berlin on Friday 19th March 2010. The pair formed by Portugal’s Marcos Freitas (no. 89) and Cratian’s Andrej Gacina (no. 60) were unbeaten yesterday since they overcame Belgium’s Lauric Jean (no. 498) / Cedric Nuytinck (no. 608) in three straight games (11-8, 11-5, 11-9), later they ousted Russia’s Mikhail Gladyshev (no. 275) / Alexey Liventsov (no. 137) again in three games (11-9, 12-10, 11-9) and finally they accounted for Spain’s Alfredo Carneiros / Carlos Machado (no. 84) in five games 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9. Today Friday in the Round of 16, the double formed by the Portuguese and the Croatian ousted Singapore’s Gao Ning the no.19 seed / Yang Zi (no. 61) in a seven games duel, with the margins of 13-15, 11-8, 1-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 6-11. Today’s  victory was surprizing and tomorrow 20th March in the Men’s Doubles Quarter Final, Freitas / Gacina will defeat Russia’s pair Tomas Konecny (no. 173) / Dmitrij Prokopcov (no. 95), at 11:15 AM.

foto: ITTF

The international Marcos Freitas (TTC Jülich) World Ranking number 89, sponsored by TIBHAR, was moved away from the Men’s Singles competition at the Germany Open, an event which started in Berlin today. In the qualification group stage of the Men’s Singles event at the German Open in Berlin on Thursday 18th March 2010, the Portuguese succeeded in his opening match against Finland’s Timo Tamminen no. 508 at world ranking in four straight games 11-5, 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 and overcome Italy’s Niagol Stoyanov in six games. Currently Stoyanov occupies the no.277 spot on the ITTF Men’s World Rankings and the Portuguese won 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 11-5. Later in the Round of 64 the Portuguese lost to Russia’s Alexander Shibaev no. 231, in six games with the margin of 4-11, 10-12, 11-9, 13-11, 9-11, 7-11.

photo: ITTF

The international Marcos Freitas (TTC Jülich) World Ranking number 89, sponsored by TIBHAR, departed today to the German capital city to dispute the Germany Open ITTF Pro Tour, an event which starts in Berlin on Thursday 18th March. The player will participate in the Men’s Singles and in the Men’s Doubles competition will make double again with the Croatian Andrej Gacina, world ranking no 60. Tomorrow March 18, in the Qualifying stage of the Men’s singles, the Portuguese athlete will face Finland’s Timo Tamminen, no. 508 at world ranking at 12h45 AM and Italy’s Niagol Stoyanov, no. 277 at world ranking at 16h30 PM.

foto: LUSA