ETTU - European Table Tennis Union - News

[Milica Nikolic]

The semifinal line-up in the Under 19 Boys Teams event at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar is complete. France will face Poland, while Spain will take on Romania, with all four teams now guaranteed at least a bronze medal.

Top seeds France secured their place in the semifinals after edging sixth seeds Italy 3-2 in a dramatic quarterfinal.

Nathan LAM gave France the opening point with a straight-games victory over Francesco TREVISAN, winning 11-9, 11-9, 11-7. Italy responded through Danilo FASO, who produced a commanding straight-games victory over Nathan PILARD to level the tie.

Antoine NOIRAULT restored France’s advantage with another assured performance, defeating Giacomo IZZO in straight games, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7.

FASO then kept Italy’s hopes alive in a five-game battle against LAM. The French player won the opening game, but FASO took the next two before LAM forced a decider with an 11-4 victory in the fourth. The Italian held his nerve in the fifth, prevailing 11-8 to level the tie at 2-2.

PILARD delivered when it mattered most, defeating TREVISAN in straight games, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, to send France into the last four.

Second seeds Poland booked their place in the semifinals with a 3-0 victory over fifth seeds Sweden. Samuel MICHNA gave Poland the opening point after a dramatic five-game battle against Adam WALLIN. MICHNA dominated the opening game 11-2, but WALLIN responded by edging the second 15-13 and taking the third 11-7 to move ahead. The Polish player recovered strongly, winning the final two games 11-6, 11-6 to complete the comeback.

Marcel BLASZCZYK doubled Poland’s advantage with a commanding straight-games victory over William BERGENBLOCK, winning 11-6, 11-5, 11-5.

Mateusz SAKOWICZ then sealed Poland’s place in the semifinals after another five-game encounter. Noa DAHLSTROM took the opening game 11-6, but SAKOWICZ responded by winning the next two 11-5, 11-4. DAHLSTROM forced a decider with an 11-9 victory in the fourth before SAKOWICZ held his nerve to take the fifth 11-9 and complete Poland’s 3-0 success.

Ninth seeds Romania continued their impressive run by defeating 11th seeds Austria 3-1 to reach the semifinals.

Julian RZIHAUSCHEK gave Austria the opening point with a straight-games victory over Robert PODAR. The Austrian edged a dramatic second game 16-14 before closing out the match 11-6 in the third.

Romania responded immediately through Robert ISTRATE, who defeated Petr HODINA in straight games. After taking the opening two games comfortably, ISTRATE held his nerve in a tight third game, winning it 13-11 to level the tie. Andrei TIBIRNA then put Romania ahead with a commanding straight-games victory over Tobias HOLD.

ISTRATE sealed Romania’s place in the semifinals with another outstanding performance against RZIHAUSCHEK. After dropping the second game, the Romanian regained control, winning the third and fourth 11-6, 11-8 to complete Romania’s 3-1 victory and secure a place on the medal rostrum.

Fourth seeds Spain completed the semifinal line-up after edging third seeds Slovakia 3-2 in another thrilling quarterfinal.

Luca KHIDASHELI gave Spain the opening point with a four-game victory over Damian FLORO. The Spaniard controlled the first and third games before holding his nerve in a tense fourth, winning 16-14.

Samuel ARPAS levelled the tie for Slovakia by defeating Francesc CARRERA in four games. After dropping the second game, ARPAS regained control to close out the match 11-7, 11-3.

Slovakia then moved ahead as Pavol KOKAVEC produced a commanding straight-games victory over Dario SALCEDO, leaving his team just one point away from the semifinals.

KHIDASHELI responded for Spain, defeating ARPAS in straight games to level the tie at 2-2 and force a deciding fifth match.

The final singles delivered another thriller. CARRERA recovered from losing the opening game to edge FLORO in five games. After FLORO won the third 12-10 to move within one game of victory, the Spaniard fought back to take the fourth 11-9 before sealing the decider 13-11, completing Spain’s dramatic comeback and booking a place in the semifinals.

The post France, Poland, Spain and Romania Secure Under 19 Boys Team Medals first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The semifinal line-up in the Under 15 Girls Teams event at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar is complete. Sweden will face France, while Germany will meet Switzerland.

Germany booked their place in the semifinals with a commanding 3-0 victory over hosts Portugal. Amelie Guzi JIA gave Germany the opening point with a four-game victory over Maria RUIVO. After the players shared the opening two games, JIA regained control to take the next two 11-8 and 11-9.

Anna WALTER then doubled Germany’s advantage with a dominant straight-games victory over Irina SILVA.

Germany completed the clean sweep in the doubles as JIA and WALTER defeated RUIVO and SILVA in straight games. The German pair edged a tight opening game 12-10 before taking firm control of the next two, winning 11-6 and 11-7 to secure their place in the last four.

Switzerland advanced to the semifinals after defeating Lithuania 3-1. Enya HU gave Switzerland the opening point with a four-game victory over Emilia PSCOLOVSKA. After the players shared the opening two games, HU regained the advantage by taking the third 11-7 before edging a tense fourth 14-12.

Kaja TVOROGAL brought Lithuania level with a four-game victory over Ilvi ULRICH. TVOROGAL won the opening two games, and although ULRICH responded in the third, the Lithuanian closed out the match 11-7 in the fourth.

Switzerland regained the lead in the doubles as HU and ULRICH defeated PSCOLOVSKA and TVOROGAL in four games. After Lithuania levelled the contest, the Swiss pair took firm control, winning the next two 11-3 and 11-5.

ULRICH then returned to secure Switzerland’s place in the semifinals with a straight-games victory over PSCOLOVSKA. She held her nerve to edge the second game 13-11 before closing out the match 11-9.

Fourth seeds Sweden produced a major upset in the quarterfinals, knocking out top seeds Czechia with a superb 3-0 victory.

Siri BENJEGARD gave Sweden the perfect start with a straight-games victory over Laura MARSICKOVA, winning 11-7, 11-5, 11-9.

Nike LUNDQVIST then doubled Sweden’s advantage with a four-game victory over Adela BRHELOVA. The Czech player edged the opening game 14-12, but LUNDQVIST responded strongly by taking the next two 11-9, 11-5. She then held her nerve in a tense fourth game, prevailing 13-11.

BENJEGARD and LUNDQVIST completed the upset in the doubles. After the pairs shared the opening two games, the Swedes regained control, winning the next two 11-8, 11-9 to send Sweden into the semifinals and end Czechia’s title challenge.

Fifth seeds France booked their place in the semifinals with a commanding 3-0 victory over sixth seeds Romania.

Albane ROCHUT gave France the perfect start by defeating Kariss SERBAN in four games. After taking the opening two games comfortably, ROCHUT saw SERBAN edge the third 14-12 before responding emphatically to close out the match 11-1.

Eva LAM doubled France’s advantage with a dominant straight-games victory over Bianca TOMA.

France completed the clean sweep in superb fashion in the doubles as ROCHUT and LAM proved too strong for SERBAN and TOMA, recording a straight-games victory while allowing the Romanian pair just 14 points to secure a place in the last four.

The post Sweden, France, Germany and Switzerland Complete Under 15 Girls Semifinal Line-up first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The semifinal line-up in the Under 19 Girls Teams event at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar is complete. France will face Germany, while Portugal will meet Romania.

Top seeds France survived a major scare to reach the semifinals, recovering from 0-2 down to defeat fifth seeds Spain 3-2.

Maria BERZOSA gave Spain the opening point with a four-game victory over Leana HOCHART. The Spaniard controlled the opening two games before HOCHART responded in the third, but BERZOSA closed out the match 11-9 in the fourth.

Camila MOSCOSO then edged Nina GUO ZHENG in the closest contest of the tie. After the players shared the opening four games, MOSCOSO held her nerve in a dramatic decider, prevailing 17-15 to put Spain within one point of the semifinals.

France responded through Jade HUYNH, who produced a straight-games victory over Renata SHYPSHA to keep her team alive.

GUO ZHENG then levelled the tie with an emphatic straight-games win over BERZOSA.

The decisive fifth singles saw HOCHART rise to the occasion. She defeated MOSCOSO in four games, recovering after narrowly losing the second 12-10 before taking the final two 11-6 and 11-9 to complete France’s remarkable comeback.

Sixth seeds Germany booked their place in the semifinals with a straight matches victory over 15th seeds Bulgaria.

Koharu ITAGAKI gave Germany the perfect start with a dominant straight-games victory over Nina NIKOLOVA. Lorena MORSCH doubled Germany’s advantage by defeating Anita PETKOVA in straight games. PETKOVA pushed hard in the opening game, but MORSCH held her nerve to edge it 14-12 before taking firm control of the next two, winning 11-6 and 11-5.

Lisa-Sophie WANG then completed the clean sweep with a four-game victory over Sidelya MUTLU. After winning the opening two games comfortably, WANG saw MUTLU respond in the third, but the German regained control to close out the match 11-1.

Fourth seeds Portugal secured their place in the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over seventh seeds Austria.

Mariana SANTA COMBA gave Portugal the perfect start by defeating Nina SKERBINZ in four games. After dropping the second, SANTA COMBA responded strongly to take the next two 11-8 and 11-7.

Julia LEAL then extended Portugal’s advantage in the closest match of the tie. Mariia LYTVYN forced a deciding game after recovering from a two-game deficit, but LEAL held her nerve to prevail 11-6 in the fifth.

Austria reduced the deficit through Elina FUCHS, who overcame Beatriz PINTO in four games. After taking the opening game comfortably, FUCHS edged two dramatic deuce games, 19-17 and 15-13, to keep Austria’s hopes alive.

LEAL returned to seal Portugal’s place in the last four. She produced another composed display to defeat SKERBINZ in four games, winning 11-5, 11-5, 8-11 and 11-8.

Portugal coach Marco RODRIGUES said SANTA COMBA’s opening victory had transformed the tie.

“We knew from the beginning that this would be a very difficult match. Nina is a very strong player, but Austria’s other players are also at a high level. Mariana’s victory over Nina in the opening match made a huge difference. It gave us confidence and made the tie a little more comfortable.

“Julia then played an excellent match to win 3-2. I expected Beatriz to win the third singles, but she struggled against Elina’s backhand pimple rubber. At the start, Beatriz made a few mistakes against it and then became a little hesitant because she was afraid of missing. That allowed the Austrian player to take control.

“Julia is playing at a very high level. She has a strong backhand, a strong forehand and, most importantly, many tactical options. She can adapt to different styles of play, and today she showed that once again.”

LEAL was pleased with the balance and confidence she showed in both of her victories.

“I think I played well today and felt confident throughout the tie. My biggest strength was that both my backhand and forehand were working well, so I felt I had good balance in my game.

“Before the match, I expected Nina to be the toughest opponent, but Mariia also played at a very high level. That made my first match extremely difficult, and I was really happy to come through it 3-2.

“After that victory, my confidence grew even more. I went into my second match believing in my game, and I was able to maintain a high level to secure the win for the team.”

Second seeds Romania completed the semifinal line-up by edging third seeds Poland 3-2 in a thrilling quarterfinal.

Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA gave Poland the opening point after a dramatic five-game victory over Alesia Sofia SFERLEA. After the players shared the opening two games, SFERLEA edged the third 14-12, but RAJKOWSKA responded by taking the final two 11-7 and 11-7.

Bianca MEI ROSU levelled the tie with a straight-games victory over Karolina HOLDA.

Natalia BOGDANOWICZ restored Poland’s advantage by defeating Patricia STOICA in four games. STOICA won the opener, but BOGDANOWICZ responded emphatically to take the next three.

MEI ROSU once again proved decisive for Romania, producing another dominant straight-games victory, this time over RAJKOWSKA, to force a deciding fifth match.

SFERLEA then completed Romania’s comeback. After winning the opening game, she saw HOLDA respond by taking the next two, but the Romanian regained control when it mattered most, winning the fourth and fifth 11-6 and 11-6 to secure Romania’s place in the semifinals.

The post France, Germany, Portugal and Romania Complete Under 19 Girls Semifinal Line-up first appeared on European table tennis union.

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