18-year-old super talent Sora Matsushima from Japan became a tough nut to crack, but Möregårdh won the round of 16 in the end with 3–2 in sets (11–8, 7–11, 8–11, 11–6, 11–4).
Normally you always say that the home crowd helps so much and blah, blah, blah. But it's so damn true, said a exhausted Möregårdh after the win.
In front of the eyes of the legendary pole vault legend Sergej Bubka, who handled the coin toss, Möregårdh got a perfect start to the match. The Swede showed good footwork and took home the first set with 11–8.
The second set became much tougher and when the Japanese went up to 7–1, the match seemed lost for the Swedish Olympic silver medalist. It was. Matsushima took home the set with 11–7.
Even the third set went the Japanese way, 11–8.
In the fourth set, Matsushima could decide the match, but instead it was Möregårdh who started well and went away to 3–0 and 7–3. The Swede continued to keep the distance and won with 11–6 and thus took the match to a decisive set.
Well into the decisive set, Möregårdh dominated and won with 11–4.
It's fantastic to play here. That's why I train every day. The Swedish table tennis crowd is really something completely different.
