*, china, nov. 29 (xinhua) -- germany's star paddler dimitrij ovtcharov, who led group a with two wins here on friday to qualify for the men's world cup main draw, told a post-match mixed zone that he's confident back to * where he took the 2017 china open crown.
"i've only positive impressions so far of this tournament. in general, since i won the china open here two years ago, i feel very positive and good impressions to be back in the same city and the same venue," he said.
the highest-ranked player in the preliminary stage, 31, denied a late comeback from club teammate vladi* samsonov and beat the 43-year-old belarus veteran 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 to wrap up his group a campaign on top.
"i have some confidence after my first win this morning," said world no. 12 ovtcharov, who beat the only other group a member daniel habesohn of australia 11-5, 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8 earlier on friday.
"i think i played a good performance (against samsonov) and i was the deserved winner today. it's very tough for me to play against samsonov since he's so strong," he added.
in the past decade that china-led asian powers have dominated the table tennis world, both ovtcharov and samsonov have been the *g names being mentioned *ry time when talking about the european male paddlers.
"he's a good friend of mine," said the ukraine-born german. "we've played together in one team in russia for over 10 years. he knows me very well, and so i know him.
"i have to figure to surprise him with some kind of tactics, and who's at the best shape on the current day, and who won. today i was fortunate to play better and stronger," he added.
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