Czechs toast incredible comeback

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The medal winners celebrate!

Having lost the first set by 11 points and after trailing by three points in the third set, A1 Major Vienna presented by Swatch champions Barbora Hermannová and Markéta Sluková were proud of each other’s performance after winning their first Major title.

It looked as though Brazilians Barbara and Fernanda were on course for a second Major Series gold medal of the season as they took the first set by blitzing the Czechs.

But the tables turned, and the recovery began as Barbora and Markéta stormed back to win and clinch their second gold of the season having won on home soil in Ostrava.

“I’m speechless, I really can’t believe it after it started so badly,” said Marketa afterwards. “We couldn’t find any rhythm and couldn’t get the ball down in the first set.

“We said to each other at the end of that first set ‘ok, that was embarrassing, we can’t play like that in a final’ and we fought back. We hung in there. We said let’s forget about it start from zero.

“I’m proud of our team because after such a first set to come back and win our first gold is incredible.”

Slukova had been struggling all week with a shoulder problem and her teammate paid tribute to the 30-year-old who repeatedly came up with a series of vital points.

“It was bad all week and we didn’t even know if we would play here,” admitted Bara. “On the court it doesn’t look as if there’s a problem and I really just don’t know how she did it, with those bumps and blocks. Just wow. I’m proud of her and how she did it. It was a mental advantage to get over in the end, we just stuck together and believed in our ability and we got there by fighting hard.”

Congratulations girls!