'Flora, Flora!' French table tennis ace Vautier counting on Paralympics crowd

France's Flora Vautier said Sunday it would be the crowd rather than herself that will "scare" world No 2 ranked opponent Sandra Mikolaschek in the WS4 wheelchair women's singles table tennis quarterfinals at the Paralympics.

The 19-year-old won her round of 16 match against Serbia's Nada Matic in straight sets at a raucous South Paris Arena on Sunday to set up a quarterfinal with German player Mikolaschek on Tuesday.

Speaking after her opening victory, Vautier said the atmosphere in the arena "helped massively" when it came to her upsetting her Serbian opponent.

"I like to serve when there's a lot of noise, when the opponent is a bit unsettled," said Vautier

"That's what often carries me through tournaments.

"I know she (Matic) was better on paper, so I thought if I don't put a ball in, it's going to be complicated.

"I lose when it's 10-10 or on the break or things like that, due to a lack of experience as well. So that (the local support) was cool."

The fervour of the venue when local favourites such as the boyish Felix Lebrun played at the Olympics was one of the most memorable moments of those Games – and the majority French crowd has kept that noise up for the Paralympics.

Despite the five other singles matches going on at the same time, nearly every eye was trained on Vautier's table and every point the Frenchwoman won was loudly applauded.

At crucial times in the second and third sets the stands around the tables shook with the stamping of feet and chants of "Flora, Flora, Flora".

Earlier in the day, Vautier collected her bronze medal for the XD7 mixed doubles, with thousands of the fans applauding her and partner Florian Merrien.

"It was incredible, especially for a bronze," said Vautier.

"After that, I'm not really trying to forget it (the medal), but to put it in a corner of my mind so that I can really stay focused.

"If I can beat (Mikolaschek) to get this (singles) medal together too, that would be incredible."

But for the first-time Paralympian, it will be a tough test against the 27-year-old German who received a bye to go straight into the quarterfinals.

"I've never won against her. I'm still not the favourite. But in any case, I'm going to give it my all," said Vautier.

"It's the crowd that's going to scare her, in fact. It's not really me," she said.

The winner of each quarterfinals advances to the semifinals, assuring themselves of at least a bronze medal.