We spoke to the President of the Moldavian Tennis Federation, Marina Tauber, about the plans of a young team on the European championships.

 BTRussia: This is the first Europia Championships for the national team of Moldova, what are your expectations?

Marina Tauber: Beach tennis in Moldova is just beginning its journey, so it is difficult to make any predictions. In the world team championships held in July in Moscow, our team ranked 24th out of 28 countries. I think that it was very good result, in fact that the team gathered and began training just a few weeks before participating in the world championships. Now, our beach tennis players are actively training, preparing, so I hope that in Israel at the European Championships they will show their best and achieve many victories. And in the future, of course, we're going to compete for top places!

BTRussia: We heard that Russian famous players brothers Zaichenko participate your preparation to European Championships. How is it going?

Marina Tauber: Vladislav and Stanislav Zaichenko - our compatriots, who have long play for Russia in beach tennis. They are one of the leading beach tennis players in the world, who are at the top-100! In Moldova we started to develop this kind of sport recently, an as long as beach tennis came to us, we turned to brothers for coaching. It is nice that they gladly responded. At the world team championships brothers Zaichenko really helped our team in adaptation and integration into “beach tennis family”. We also plan to organize in Moldova BT master-classes and clinics to attract more people to this interesting sport. And we hope Vladislav and Stanislav will come and participate in these events too.

We were able to talk about the upcoming European Championships with Stanislav Zaichenko.

BTRussia: This year Russia is going to be represented at EC by MD: Burmakin/Kuptsov and Guriev/Syrov, and WD: Chubarova/Glimakova and Kirgizova/Churakova, what do you think about chances of our team in this fight with defending champions from Italy?

Stas: Yes, this year our national team in the men's draw will be represented by our leaders Sergey and Nikita and newcomers Ivan and Nikolay! I think Russia as a team and all our players as doubles could fight for medals! Of course, there are very high and reasonable expectations from the first doubles Burmakin/Kuptsov, but I believe that Syrov/Guriev could become the sensation of the championships! In the women doubles Russian girls have always been on top, and they have high expectations too, but I guess they meet expectations very well! Both teams in my opinion can and should fight for the finals!!! Cuz the finals, as you know, it's a completely different competition. Also looking forward to victories in the mixed category, in my opinion, our doubles are one of the best in the world! And in Europe!

BTRussia: We heard that you participate in the preparation of the national team of Moldova to upcoming EC. So for whom you will support: Russia or Moldova?

Stas: Beach tennis is actually a very friendly sport! And also my brother and I were born and raised in Moldova, so we were happy to introduce this sport to guys from Moldova! I think we could make that team of Moldova and the President of Tennis Federation in Moldova are fell in love with BT! As for our preference, of course, we'll be support Russian team, but also we will be happy for successes of Team Moldova!

Reporter btrussia.com Ekaterina Bobkova

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