18/11/2010 - In the opening rounds of the Serbian Open in Subotica favorites avoided any unpleasant surprises at the qualification stages. Evgueni CHTCHETININE, Pavel PLATONOV and Vitaly NEKHVEDOVICH of Belarus all scored straight games victories.

Defending champion Marko JEVTOVIC also won, as well as Benjamin BROSSIER and Thomas Le BRETON of France. Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania had an easy opening match, as well as Gabrijela FEHER of Serbia.

A day before the start of the European Mixed Doubles Championships in Subotica the member of City Assembly in charge of sport, youth and tourism Nemanja SIMOVIC hosted the press conference in The City Hall.  "We are happy that we have another opportunity to welcome the players at another edition of Mixed Doubles Championships. Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC and Ruta PASKAUSKIENE will surely give their best to defend their title, but it will be very difficult since another European champion a Viktoria PAVLOVICH is also here. Viktoria will play with Evgueni CHTCHETININE. They are main favorites, but there are also couple more good pairings," announced STTA President Zoran KALINIC.

Viktoria PAVLOVICH, as well KARAKASEVIC have chosen only to play at the MD Event. "I am focus to make good result in mixed doubles, and that is the reason why will not play at the Serbia Open," explained PAVLOVICH.

It was the same reason that KARAKASEVIC gave.  "We continue to have good cooperation with ETTU. I hope it will eventually put Subotica in the center of the Serbian table tennis," said Minister Nemanja SIMOVIC.

(by Milica NIKOLIC, EWT)