OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Parker crashes out of table tennis singles

By Ben Burrows, Sportsbeat, London 2012

JOANNA Parker crashed out of the table tennis London 2012 Olympics women’s singles after losing in five games to Kristin Silbereisen at the ExCel.

OUT: Joanna Parker suffers second round defeat to Germany's Kristin Silbereisen in five games

Parker, who cruised into the second round with a four game win over Caroline Kumahara yesterday, was blown away by the German 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 11-4.

The 25-year-old was clearly disappointed to go out, but admitted the experience of playing in front of a home crowd will help later on in the team tournament which begins on Friday.

"I guess I learnt from having to deal with the whole hall watching you,” she said. “I was a lot more prepared for it today, so in the future nothing is going to match that or phase me."

"They really did (help me) and I'd like to thank them for that, I've never experienced anything like that. The crowd were brilliant today, it is so much help having them behind you."

Parker believes she got her tactics right against the impressive German but just came up against a better player on the day.

"It was a tough one. I've seen her play defenders before and her first attack is so strong. She's a good player and very good against defence, I had to try and play my game and cause her problems.

"I was sure the tactics I was using were the right ones. I did well to win that set and make her nervous, I changed the dynamic with that set."

Parker will now turn her attention to the team competition and supporting her boyfriend Paul Drinkhall who plays his own second round match later today.

 

© Sportsbeat 2012