ETTU - European Table Tennis Union - News

[Milica Nikolic]

Germany will arrive at the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana with one of the strongest women’s line-ups in the field, headed by top seed Sabine WINTER and featuring Ying HAN, Nina MITTELHAM, Annett KAUFMANN and Franziska SCHREINER. The top four all enter the Championships with significant ambitions in the Women’s Singles event.

WINTER heads the German challenge after an outstanding 2026 season in which she won the Europe Top 16 title in Montreux. The 33-year-old is a two-time European Women’s Doubles champion and five-time European Team champion, while her best Singles result at the European Championships remains the bronze medal she won in Munich in 2022.

Despite entering Ljubljana as the top seed, WINTER is taking little notice of her position in the draw.

“I haven’t thought much about the seeding so far. Unfortunately, being seeded doesn’t win you matches. What it does show me, however, is that on a good day I definitely belong among Europe’s best and can beat anyone there. Unfortunately, you don’t always play equally well and you aren’t in top form every day. Every one of my opponents there can play very good table tennis.”

The European Singles crown remains one of WINTER’s major ambitions, although her preparations have been complicated by the cervical disc problem that interrupted her season during the summer. She has since returned to full training.

“It’s true that becoming European Singles champion is one of my sporting dreams. I had actually set that as my goal for this October in Ljubljana. But in recent weeks I definitely haven’t looked ready to win the title. Becoming European champion is extremely difficult anyway. The slipped disc I suffered this summer certainly hasn’t made it any easier – and unfortunately it doesn’t simply disappear from one day to the next. But I am back in full training and, especially over the past week, I have been able to train very intensively. My form in training is improving. The dream for 2026 is not over yet.”

Alongside WINTER, Germany can count on three-time Europe Top 16 champion Ying HAN. The 43-year-old is also a five-time European champion, with four Team titles and the Mixed Doubles crown she won in 2018.

HAN, however, expects a particularly demanding battle in Ljubljana, not least from her own teammates.

“My main opponents will once again come from Germany – and the European Championships are even more difficult than the Europe Top 16, where for a long time only two representatives from each nation were allowed to play. But I’m not putting myself under any pressure ahead of the European Championships. I’ll simply try to fight for a medal in Slovenia.”

Nina MITTELHAM has come increasingly close to the Singles crown at the last two editions. She won silver in Munich in 2022 before adding bronze in Linz two years later. The 29-year-old already owns European titles in Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles and the Team event, leaving Singles as the missing piece in her European Championships collection.

“Unfortunately, it’s not automatic, but it is definitely my goal! After all, it’s the only title I am still missing at the European Championships. I have worked well and played well over the past few months, so I am travelling to the European Championships in good form. I hope I can play my best table tennis, and then we’ll see how far that takes me. It certainly won’t happen by itself.”

At 20, Annett KAUFMANN represents the younger generation of Germany’s challenge. Already European champion at U15, U19 and U21 level and a three-time German champion, she will now look for her first Women’s Singles medal at the senior European Championships.

“I’m in very good form at the moment, even though I recently had to take a short break because of some minor elbow pain. I have developed very positively since the last European Individual Championships in 2024. Winning a Singles medal at the European Championships would be really cool. As for the colour, I wouldn’t mind for my first medal this time – it would be the first step. The title is definitely still missing from my collection and I absolutely want to win it one day. It certainly won’t be a walk in the park, but I’ve already beaten many good players. Naturally, that gives me confidence. But at such an important tournament, all the other players will obviously be highly motivated as well.”

Germany will also have strong options in the Doubles events. WINTER will partner HAN in Women’s Doubles, while KAUFMANN joins MITTELHAM. In Mixed Doubles, KAUFMANN will play alongside Patrick FRANZISKA and MITTELHAM with Benedikt DUDA.

HAN believes her partnership with WINTER could be particularly effective.

“We’ve trained together quite well and we’re approaching it without pressure. I think we’re quite a good pairing. Maybe I even have a better chance of winning a medal together with Sabine than in Singles. One of our strengths is that, because of our playing materials as well, we are very uncomfortable opponents for anyone. And of course Sabine can immediately attack with her strong forehand whenever the opportunity arises. Basically, we have everything! I’m looking forward to the Doubles!”

The post WINTER: Being seeded doesn’t win you matches first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

France’s Alexis LEBRUN will arrive at the European Championships in Ljubljana carrying some of the finest memories of his career – and two titles to defend.

Two years ago in Linz, LEBRUN produced a memorable campaign to become European Men’s Singles champion, while also joining forces with his younger brother Félix to claim the Men’s Doubles crown. Now, at 23, the Frenchman returns to the continental stage as a more experienced player and with an even stronger position among Europe’s elite.

“For me, it is one of those amazing moments. I think it is my best memory in table tennis. I played at a crazy good level, so I have very good feelings when I remember that tournament. What I remember most is how I felt at the table. It was very special to experience that,” said LEBRUN.

The situation in Ljubljana will be different. In Linz, LEBRUN entered the event without carrying the weight of being one of the leading contenders. Two years later, after adding more major titles and medals to his collection, he knows expectations have changed.

“For sure, it is a little bit different. I think I have improved a lot as well. Before Linz, I was really an outsider, and now I would say I am not the favourite. I think Truls and Félix are the favourites, but I am just behind them. It is different, but it also gives me more confidence because I know I managed to do it when I was a big outsider. Now that I have improved, I know I have a chance to do it again.”

LEBRUN has continued to strengthen his position at the top of European table tennis since his triumph in Austria. He won Team gold with France at the 2025 European Championships in Zadar and claimed back-to-back Europe Top 16 titles in 2025 and 2026.

His record extends well beyond the continental stage. LEBRUN was part of the French team that won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, helped France to World Championships Team silver in Busan in 2024 and Team bronze in London in 2026, while also winning Men’s Doubles bronze at the 2025 World Championships in Doha.

With Ljubljana one of his major targets at the start of the season, LEBRUN has placed particular emphasis on his preparation.

“I played a lot of tournaments to prepare for Ljubljana. We also went to China with our full staff to prepare for this event. For me, it is the most important event at the beginning of the season, so I will try to prepare as much as I can and be really ready for the tournament.”

LEBRUN expects the battle for medals in Ljubljana to be particularly demanding, with the strength of European table tennis continuing to grow.

“I think this year the level is very, very high. European table tennis has improved a lot in recent years, so in Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles it will be very tough, but I hope I will have good results.”

Alongside his Singles title defence, LEBRUN will also have another European crown to protect with Félix. The brothers arrive in Ljubljana as the reigning European Men’s Doubles champions and the world’s top-ranked pair.

“We are the reigning champions and also number one in the world, so of course we want to defend this title. It is never easy to win titles when you are the favourite because there are many very good players in Europe. We have prepared a lot in doubles for this event, so we will try to enjoy every match and keep going for the title.”

Having entered Linz as an outsider and left with two gold medals, LEBRUN arrives in Ljubljana in a very different position – but with the memory of that remarkable week still providing confidence as he prepares to defend his European crowns.

The post Alexis LEBRUN returns to European stage with golden memories and high ambitions first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The 2026 European Championships got underway at Arena Stožice in Ljubljana on Sunday, with the Women’s Singles group stage producing plenty of excitement from the very first matches.

The opening round featured the second- and third-ranked players in each group, and several encounters showed just how little separates the competitors. Eight of the 23 matches went to five games, with some decided by the narrowest of margins.

The home crowd had something to celebrate early on as Slovenia’s Katarina STRAZAR made a confident start against Austria’s Elina FUCHS. STRAZAR dominated the opening game 11-2 and maintained control to complete a straight-games victory.

“I’m not surprised by my performance. Already before the match, I knew I would give it my all and fight till the end no matter what. I am, however, a little surprised by how quickly I got the feeling for the arena. I hit three shots well right at the start, though things could easily have gone the other way. That immediately boosted my confidence. After that, things started flowing, and I managed to outplay my opponent using spin,” said STRAZAR.

Her compatriot Lara OPEKA came close to adding another Slovenian win. Facing Jersey’s Hannah SILCOCK, OPEKA recovered from losing the opening game to move 2-1 ahead. However, SILCOCK fought back, taking the fourth game 12-10 before closing out the decider 11-8.

There was no shortage of drama elsewhere. Portugal’s Mariana SANTA had to dig deep against Slovakia’s Dominika WILTSCHKOVA. After five closely contested games, SANTA finally sealed victory 12-10 in the decider.

Belgium’s Lessia LEWYCKYJ also needed all five games to overcome Sweden’s Angelina BEBAWY. Twice in front and twice pegged back, LEWYCKYJ eventually found the winning touch in the deciding game, which she took 11-9.

Bulgaria’s Maria YOVKOVA followed a similar path against Ulyana MIASHCHANSKAYA (ETTU1), winning 3-2 after a hard-fought encounter. Her compatriots also enjoyed a successful start. Tsvetelina GEORGIEVA recovered from losing the opening game to defeat Serbia’s Reka BEZEG 3-1, while Viktoria PERSOVA overcame Wales’ Danielle KELLY by the same margin.

Hungary’s Rebeka NAGY was another player pushed to the limit. Against Czechia’s Jana VASENDOVA, she won the third game 12-10 but lost the fourth by the same score before pulling away in the fifth to secure victory.

Finland’s Marina DONNER also emerged victorious from a five-game contest against Hungary’s Judit NAGY, while Ukraine’s Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO started with a 3-1 win over Sweden’s Siri BENJEGÅRD.

For Czechia, Hanka KODET and Karin GROFOVA had a much smoother passage through their opening matches. KODET conceded just 11 points in her straight-games victory over England’s Ella PASHLEY, while GROFOVA was equally convincing against North Macedonia’s Amelia UCE-NIKOLOV.

England’s Tianer YU and Norway’s Martine TOFTAKER also opened with 3-0 wins, overcoming Latvia’s Sabina MUSAJEVA and Sweden’s Nomin BAASAN respectively.

The Slovenian supporters had less to cheer in the remaining home matches. Laura RAHOTIN PAVIČ lost 3-1 to Portugal’s Julia LEAL, while Tjasa NOVAK was beaten in straight games by Poland’s Anna BRZYSKA.

The post Close Battles Mark Opening Day of Women’s Singles in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Switzerland’s Enya HU stole the spotlight on the final day of the JOOLA Czechia Open 2026, claiming both the Under 13 and Under 15 Girls’ Singles titles after a remarkable series of comebacks. The home supporters also had plenty to celebrate as Richard FEBER JR. secured the Under 13 Boys’ Singles crown, while Poland enjoyed a successful finish with two gold medals.

See the pictures by Michal JANIK here.

HU’s most dramatic victory came in the Under 15 Girls’ Singles final against Germany’s Lotta ROTHFUSS. The Swiss player found herself trailing 0-2 after losing the opening games 5-11 and 5-11, but refused to give up. She turned the match around with an 11-3 victory in the third game, edged the fourth 11-9 and completed her comeback by taking the decider 11-5.

It was not the first time HU had faced such a challenge. Earlier, in the Under 15 semi-finals, she had also recovered from two games down to overcome Portugal’s Matilde SOUSA 3-2.

Her second title came in the Under 13 Girls’ Singles event, where she defeated compatriot Emily WU in straight games. The 3-0 scoreline did not tell the whole story, with HU having to fight for every game. She took the opener 13-11, followed by 11-9 and 12-10, to complete her double triumph.

For the Czech supporters, Richard FEBER JR. provided another highlight of the day. Facing Sweden’s Filip AROSELL in the Under 13 Boys’ Singles final, the home player lost the opening game 4-11 but responded brilliantly. A tight second game proved crucial as FEBER JR. edged it 13-11 before taking the next two 11-6, 11-6 to seal the title.

His road to gold had been far from straightforward. In the semi-finals, FEBER JR. had to recover from a 1-2 deficit against Germany’s Koki PUSCHEL, eventually winning the deciding game 11-9.

Poland’s Olaf GLANERT emerged victorious from another five-game battle in the Under 15 Boys’ Singles final against Finland’s Jimi KOIVUMÄKI. The Finnish player twice moved ahead, but GLANERT kept finding a way back. After levelling the match at 2-2 with an 11-9 fourth game, he took control of the decider to win 11-5.

KOIVUMÄKI had produced an impressive comeback of his own in the semi-finals, recovering from two games down against Sweden’s Zac HALLEN and surviving a tense deciding game 14-12. GLANERT, meanwhile, had needed five games to overcome Austria’s Sung CHEN.

Poland added another title in the Under 13 Mixed Doubles, where Jakub BŁASZCZYK and Hanna KUFEL defeated Germany’s Koki PUSCHEL and Dana HASPEL 3-0. After a closely contested opening game, which the Polish pair won 11-9, they took complete control, winning the following games 11-4 and 11-3.

The Under 15 Mixed Doubles title went to Austria’s Joshua SAMS and Germany’s Lotta ROTHFUSS, who overcame Sweden’s Zac HALLEN and Esther WARENFELDT 3-1.

SAMS and ROTHFUSS made a strong start, winning the opening two games 11-8 and 11-4. The Swedish pair responded by taking the third 11-5, but the Austrian-German combination held their nerve in a close fourth game to secure victory 13-11.

Finals – Results

Under 13 Boys’ Singles

• Richard FEBER JR. (CZE) beat Filip AROSELL (SWE) 3-1 (4-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-6)

Under 13 Girls’ Singles

• Enya HU (SUI) beat Emily WU (SUI) 3-0 (13-11, 11-9, 12-10)

Under 13 Mixed Doubles

• Jakub BŁASZCZYK / Hanna KUFEL (POL) beat Koki PUSCHEL / Dana HASPEL (GER) 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-3)

Under 15 Boys’ Singles

• Olaf GLANERT (POL) beat Jimi KOIVUMÄKI (FIN) 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5)

Under 15 Girls’ Singles

• Enya HU (SUI) beat Lotta ROTHFUSS (GER) 3-2 (5-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-5)

Under 15 Mixed Doubles

• Joshua SAMS (AUT) / Lotta ROTHFUSS (GER) beat Zac HALLEN / Esther WARENFELDT (SWE) 3-1 (11-8, 11-4, 5-11, 13-11)

The post Enya HU Claims Double Gold as JOOLA Czechia Open Concludes first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Men’s Singles group stage at the 2026 European Championships got underway at Arena Stožice in Ljubljana on Sunday, with Switzerland’s Loic STOLL and Austria’s Zhenlong LIU producing two of the biggest surprises of the opening round.

STOLL, ranked No. 318 in the October ETTU ranking, overturned a substantial ranking gap to defeat Türkiye’s Ibrahim GUNDUZ, ranked No. 76. The Swiss player recovered from a 1-2 deficit, winning the fourth game 11-8 before racing through the decider 11-2 to complete a remarkable comeback.

“It was a very difficult match because I struggled with his serve at the beginning. However, I managed to stay mentally strong, and as the match progressed, both my level of play and physical performance improved. In the end, I played really well, and I’m extremely happy with this victory,” said STOLL.

“My goal is to approach every match with a winning mindset. At the same time, there are certain aspects of my game and playing style that I want to develop and implement. For me, the result is not the most important thing. What matters most is the quality of my performance on the table and my mental approach. In that respect, I was very pleased with how I played this morning.”

STOLL is hoping to improve on his performance at the previous European Championships in Linz.

“Last time, I progressed through the group stage but lost in the qualifying round. Of course, I hope to go further this time, but nothing is guaranteed. I’m in a very strong group, and every match is a tough challenge.”

Austria’s Zhenlong LIU, ranked No. 302, also upset the form book against Czechia’s Stepan BRHEL, ranked No. 77. After losing the opening game 2-11, LIU turned the contest around to claim a 3-1 victory, taking the following games 11-8, 11-3 and 12-10.

There was another unexpected result for the Czech team as Ondrej KVETON, ranked No. 209, narrowly lost to Nikon SHUTOV (ETTU1), ranked No. 94. SHUTOV made the stronger start but found himself trailing 1-2 before fighting back. The deciding game turned into one of the most dramatic finishes of the round, with SHUTOV eventually prevailing 15-13.

The home supporters had something to celebrate thanks to Slovenia’s Brin VOVK PETROVSKI. Ranked No. 124, he made a confident start against Slovakia’s Adam KLAJBER, ranked No. 165, securing a straight-games victory. VOVK PETROVSKI took the opening two games 11-8 and 11-9 before completing the win 13-11.

It was a more difficult start for his compatriot Miha PODOBNIK, who faced Germany’s Ricardo WALTHER. The German, ranked No. 67, proved too strong, winning 3-0 after taking a closely contested opening game 11-9.

Among the other closely fought encounters, Latvia’s Daniels KOGANS overcame Greece’s Alexandros MADESIS in five games. KOGANS twice took the lead, only for MADESIS to respond on both occasions, before the Latvian dominated the decider 11-3.

Finland’s Lassi LEHTOLA also had to come from behind against Estonia’s Madis MOOS. Trailing 1-2, LEHTOLA found his rhythm in the closing stages, taking the final two games 11-8 and 11-5.

Türkiye’s Görkem ÖÇAL faced an even tougher challenge against Iceland’s Ingi RODRIGUEZ. After losing the first two games, ÖÇAL fought his way back into contention and completed the turnaround with an 11-6 victory in the fifth.

Denmark enjoyed a successful start, with Martin ANDERSEN and Tobias RASMUSSEN both winning in straight games. ANDERSEN overcame Lithuania’s Ervinas UZIALO, while RASMUSSEN defeated the Netherlands’ Milo DE BOER.

Serbia also had reason to be satisfied. Zsolt PETO defeated Cyprus’ Sharpel ELIA 3-0, while Dimitrije LEVAJAC was equally convincing against San Marino’s Lorenzo RAGNI. Their compatriot Uros NINKOVIC was unable to follow suit, losing 3-1 to Spain’s Diego LILLO despite taking the opening game.

Germany’s Kay STUMPER opened with a straight-games victory over Italy’s Francesco TREVISAN, while Romania’s Andrei ISTRATE dominated his encounter against Georgia’s Lasha LOMIA, winning 3-0 and conceding only 13 points.

England’s Samuel WALKER was pushed to five games by Türkiye’s Tugay YILMAZ but came through to secure his first victory. Italy’s Danilo FASO also made a winning start, defeating Finland’s Aleksi RÄSÄNEN 3-1.

The post STOLL and LIU Spring Opening-Day Surprises in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

For Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC, the 2026 European Championships will carry a significance unlike any previous edition. Competing at Arena Stožice in Ljubljana, the 28-year-old will have the opportunity to chase another major European medal in front of his home supporters.

JORGIC already has an impressive record on the continental stage. He came within one victory of the European Men’s Singles crown in Munich in 2022, where he took silver, and has two European Team bronze medals, from Luxembourg in 2017 and Zadar in 2025.

His record at the Europe Top 16 is even more remarkable. JORGIC won the title three years in succession, in 2022, 2023 and 2024, while finishing runner-up in 2020, 2025 and 2026.

This time, however, the setting will make the challenge different.

“Honestly, my goal and my wish is to win a medal in front of the home crowd – a medal I missed out on in Linz. Before that, I finished second in Munich, and I was just one step away from gold.”

Despite being among the leading European players, JORGIC knows that rankings offer few guarantees in a field where the margins have become increasingly small. His experience at the 2024 European Championships in Linz, when he found himself in serious difficulty early in the tournament, remains a useful reminder.

“If we remember Linz, when I was losing 3-1 and 7-2 to a Hungarian LEI who, if I remember correctly, was not even in the world’s top 50, then you realise that the world ranking doesn’t tell the whole story. I think this European Championship will be one of the strongest ever. I believe anyone can beat anyone.”

For JORGIC, arriving in the right condition will therefore matter more than his position on the entry list.

“The ranking is no longer the most important thing. What matters most is being in the right form and how you perform on the day. The first rounds are always the most difficult.”

There are encouraging signs in that respect. After a period in which he struggled to find the consistency he wanted, JORGIC believes his game is settling again.

“I have always said that I want to get back into the world’s top 10 as quickly as possible. I am currently 12th. For some time now, I have been going around in circles, moving one step up and one step down.”

The demanding international calendar has made that task more complicated. JORGIC believes the sport has moved increasingly towards a tennis-style schedule, with players travelling continuously between tournaments and continents and having less time for sustained periods of training.

“It is difficult mentally and physically. There is not enough time to train, and that is causing problems for all the players. You can also see it in the results, with Asian players losing matches against Europeans, especially the Chinese. I think Europe has closed the gap.”

Adapting his own programme has been part of the process. JORGIC moved away from the German Bundesliga in search of greater flexibility and more control over his competition schedule.

“I used to have a similar system. I trained a lot, prepared for competitions and then went to tournaments and played my best. At that time, I was ranked sixth in the world, and that approach helped me. Now I have to adapt to a different system. It is difficult, but as the years go by, you get used to it. And yes, I can say that I am back in good form now. I feel like I have really stabilised my game.”

There has also been an important development for Slovenian table tennis ahead of the Championships, with the opening of a new national training centre at Dolgi Most on the outskirts of Ljubljana.

For JORGIC, who left home for Novo Mesto at the age of 15 in order to pursue his career, having high-level training conditions available at home represents a significant step forward.

“I’m really, really happy that we finally opened it and that it has been built, because I think it is a fantastic opportunity for all the young table tennis players. The conditions are phenomenal. Training at home is the best – I’ve always said that.”

He hopes the centre will help the next generation of Slovenian players avoid some of the sacrifices he had to make at an early age, while also providing better conditions for the country’s established internationals.

“I left home for Novo Mesto when I was 15. It was difficult for my parents, but in the end, if you decide to pursue a professional career, it was the right decision. Now we all hope that the new centre in Ljubljana will help all the young players take the next step and reach a higher level. And not just them – hopefully it will also help me and all the other Slovenian players.”

JORGIC also won Men’s Singles and Team gold at the 2018 Mediterranean Games in Tarragona and added another Team title four years later in Oran. But a European Championships on home soil represents a different opportunity altogether.

“I am really happy and proud of the entire federation for organising this championship at home. It is something really special for me and for all Slovenian table tennis players.”

And there is one ingredient he hopes Arena Stožice will provide in abundance.

“I would also like to call on all the fans to come and support us. I think we will really need that support. I sincerely hope I can show my best form and put in some good performances. The result will only come with good play.”

The post Home hopes high as Darko JORGIC targets European medal in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The second day of the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana brought a series of surprises in the Men’s Singles group stage, with the arrival of the highest-ranked players in each group producing dramatic five-game battles, unexpected defeats and several outstanding performances from lower-ranked opponents.

The biggest headlines came from the Netherlands’ Ivan KAHN, Hungary’s David SZANTOSI and Serbia’s Uroš NINKOVIĆ, who all defeated opponents ranked considerably higher on the ETTU ranking list.

KAHN, ranked No. 151, produced one of the most impressive results of the morning by overcoming Luxembourg’s Luka MLADENOVIC, ranked No. 36, in five games (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 11-8).

The Dutch player made a flying start and established a two-game lead before MLADENOVIC fought back to force a decider. KAHN, however, recovered his composure at the crucial moment to complete the biggest victory of his career.

“It’s unbelievable for me. I think, for sure, it’s my best win in my life. I’m really happy. I played very well,” said KAHN.

His success was no accident. The Dutchman had carefully studied his opponent’s unusual playing style and prepared a tactical plan with his coach.

“I discussed with my coach last night how to make a plan. I wanted to be very aggressive on his anti-spin because I knew that if I played a lot of spin into his anti, I would play the balls to the tribunes when I tried to control.”

Despite leading 2-0 in games and 5-2 in the third, KAHN saw his advantage disappear as MLADENOVIC found his rhythm.

“It almost went away after 2-0, 5-2. He found more of his rhythm. I started making some mistakes, but I’m very happy that in the fifth set I could get it back and get the win.”

With victories over Belgium’s Laurens DEVOS and MLADENOVIC, KAHN confirmed his place in the main draw, although celebrations will have to wait.

“I’m through to the main draw, so I cannot celebrate too much. Now I will watch my teammates, and I will call my parents.”

Another major surprise came from Hungary’s David SZANTOSI, ranked No. 152, who defeated Spain’s Juan PEREZ, No. 38, in four games (11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 11-9). SZANTOSI responded strongly after losing the second game and held his nerve in two closely contested games to secure an outstanding victory.

Serbia’s Uroš NINKOVIĆ also had reason to celebrate after defeating Austria’s Andreas LEVENKO, ranked No. 51, in a thrilling five-game contest. NINKOVIĆ, No. 208 on the ETTU list, recovered from a 1-2 deficit to prevail 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9.

For the Serbian player, the result carried special significance, even though his opening defeat to Spain’s Diego LILLO meant that the victory would not be enough to take him into the next stage.

“This is my first victory at the European Championships, so it means a lot to me and I am very happy about it. Of course, there is some disappointment because it is not enough for me to progress to the next stage, as I lost my opening match 3-1,” said NINKOVIĆ.

“But looking at everything, the player I defeated today is probably the biggest name I have ever beaten in my career.”

The Serbian added that his performances over the opening two days had strengthened his confidence.

“I am satisfied with my performance, both yesterday and today. I think I am in good form and playing well. It is a wonderful feeling to represent Serbia at such a major championship, to achieve a victory and experience everything that comes with it.”

While several leading players suffered unexpected defeats, Portugal’s experienced Tiago APOLONIA survived a difficult examination against Slovenia’s Peter HRIBAR.

APOLONIA, ranked No. 40, was pushed all the way by the home player, ranked No. 162, before winning 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4).

HRIBAR’s consistency and awkward service created problems for the Portuguese player, who eventually found the solution by adopting a more aggressive approach in the deciding game.

“Honestly, I didn’t know Peter so well, but I saw his game yesterday, and he played very well. He didn’t make any easy mistakes. He has an uncomfortable service, in my opinion,” explained APOLONIA.

“After losing the fourth set, I said to myself, I need to be a bit more aggressive; otherwise, he will not make easy mistakes, and the game will be very difficult. I think this was the key: I was a bit more aggressive in the fifth set.”

For a player accustomed to competing at the highest level, the challenge of negotiating the group stage represents an unfamiliar experience.

“My main goal right now is to pass the group stage. It’s, of course, not a common situation for me. I don’t remember the last time I needed to play qualifications. This is a difficult game, and now I need to focus again on tomorrow’s game.”

Several other established names made successful starts to their campaigns. Slovakia’s Yang WANG defeated Greece’s Georgios STAMATOUROS 3-0, while Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT overcame Lithuania’s Ervinas UZIALO without dropping a game.

Sweden’s Elias RANEFUR beat the Netherlands’ Milo DE BOER 3-1, Norway’s Borgar HAUG defeated Slovakia’s Adam KLAJBER 3-0, and Romania’s Darius MOVILEANU recorded a straight-games victory over Heorhi KUNATS of Belarus.

Austria’s Robert GARDOS also opened with a 3-0 success against Estonia’s Madis MOOS, while Croatia’s Ivor BAN defeated Switzerland’s Elias HARDMEIER 3-1.

Hungary’s Csaba ANDRAS, England’s Connor GREEN and Greece’s Panagiotis GIONIS were among those recording convincing straight-games victories. GIONIS proved particularly dominant against Israel’s Itay AVIVI, conceding only 13 points across three games.

England’s Liam PITCHFORD defeated Finland’s Aleksi RASANEN 3-0, while Portugal’s Joao MONTEIRO and Tiago ABIODUN also began with straight-games victories. Finland’s Benedek OLAH and Italy’s John OYEBODE added further successes, while Croatia’s Filip ZELJKO was pushed to five games by Serbia’s Zsolt PETO.

Hungary’s Adam SZUDI also faced a demanding opening match, recovering from a 1-2 deficit to beat Czechia’s Ondrej KVETON 3-2 (11-8, 5-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-7).

Among the players who had already impressed on the opening day, Switzerland’s Loic STOLL was unable to repeat his remarkable victory over Türkiye’s Ibrahim GUNDUZ. STOLL, ranked No. 318, had defeated the No. 76-ranked GUNDUZ in five games on Sunday, but Romania’s Andrei ISTRATE halted his momentum with a 3-0 victory on Monday.

Serbia’s Dimitrije LEVAJAC continued his strong start, defeating Austria’s Zhenlong LIU 3-1 after opening with a straight-games victory over San Marino’s Lorenzo RAGNI. LIU had caused a major surprise on Sunday by beating Czechia’s Stepan BRHEL.

Germany’s Ricardo WALTHER also remained unbeaten after defeating Serbia’s Nemanja DILAS 3-1, while Bulgaria’s Yoan VELICHKOV recorded his second victory by overcoming Slovenia’s Miha PODOBNIK.

Poland’s Maciej KUBIK had to work hard for his second success, twice coming from behind against Spain’s Miguel PANTOJA before winning 3-2. Norway’s Khai LAM also registered his second victory, defeating Greenland’s Poul PETERSEN in straight games.

Italy’s Matteo MUTTI and the Netherlands’ Gabrielius CAMARA maintained their perfect records, each winning their opening two matches without conceding a game. The same was true of Germany’s Kay STUMPER and Poland’s Mateusz ZALEWSKI.

Spain’s Daniel BERZOSA and Evgeny TIKHONOV of Russia, also recorded two straight-games victories apiece, while Türkiye’s Abdullah YIGENLER and Moldova’s Andrei PUTUNTICA continued their unbeaten starts.

Nikita ARTEMENKO of Russia followed his opening victory over Sweden’s Anders ERIKSSON with a convincing 3-0 win against Türkiye’s Tugay YILMAZ.

The post KAHN stuns MLADENOVIC as upsets shake up European Championships qualifying in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Serbia’s Reka BEZEG produced one of the biggest surprises of the Women’s Singles group stage at the European Championships in Ljubljana on Monday, defeating Wales’ Charlotte CAREY in straight games. The second day of competition also brought a dramatic comeback from Italy’s Nicole ARLIA and victories for Slovenian players Sara TOKIC and Ana TOFANT in front of the home crowd.

BEZEG, seeded 114th and ranked 273rd in Europe, faced a difficult task against CAREY, the 55th seed and world No. 69 in the European ranking. However, the Serbian player delivered an impressive performance to claim a 3-0 victory and keep her hopes of reaching the main draw alive.

The result was even more remarkable considering BEZEG’s disappointment on the opening day, when she lost 3-1 to Bulgaria’s Tsvetelina GEORGIEVA despite making a promising start.

“Yesterday, against GEORGIEVA, I was leading 1-0 in games and 7-3 in the second, but unfortunately I ended up losing the match. Having lost my opening group match 3-1, I was in a more difficult position today and felt even more pressure. Nevertheless, I managed to stay calm and focused, stick to my game and give everything I had.

“I think that approach was exactly what helped me achieve a 3-0 victory against Charlotte. My qualification for the next stage will depend on tomorrow’s match between the other two players in the group, so all I can do now is wait for the result and hope for the best,” said BEZEG.

While BEZEG celebrated an unexpected victory, Italy’s Nicole ARLIA experienced a very different kind of battle against Valeriia KOTSIUR (of Russia.

The Italian, seeded 34th, recovered from 1-2 down in games and 1-5 in the decider to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory (11-9, 13-15, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9).

Afterwards, ARLIA gave a remarkably candid account of the tactical difficulties she had faced and the crucial advice she received from her coach in the closing moments.

“I knew it was going to be a very difficult match, so I started extremely focused. I was leading in the first game, and the second was incredibly close, with lots of nets and edges. At 1-1, I told myself that we were starting again from zero.

“I continued trying to play my game, but then she changed her tactics and I didn’t know how to respond. For a game and a half, I was completely lost. I kept asking myself what I should do. Then I decided I had to try something different, and I think that was the key to turning the match around.

“In the deciding game, I was 5-1 down, but I kept fighting. Point by point, I managed to come back. At 9-9, I had the serve and turned to my coach, telling him I didn’t know what to do. He told me how to serve, and I won the point. Then I asked him again, and he gave me the same advice.

“I am really happy because I managed to change my game and find a way to win. Coming back like that was an amazing feeling, and it gives me a lot of confidence for the matches ahead,” said ARLIA.

For the Slovenian supporters at Arena Stožice, there was plenty to celebrate as Sara TOKIC and Ana TOFANT both recorded victories.

TOKIC, seeded 48th, defeated England’s Ella PASHLEY 3-0, but the Slovenian admitted that the score did not tell the full story. After her disappointment in Mixed Doubles, she had needed time to reset mentally before returning to the table.

“After losing in mixed doubles, I quickly accepted that there was nothing I could do to change the result and that I had to move on. I told myself to focus on the doubles with Ana and my singles matches. I took the night to process the defeat and reflect on everything. When I came to the arena this morning, I felt like a completely different person.

“I’m happy with how I played today. It may have looked like a straightforward win, but it was much tougher than it seemed. I still feel some pressure, and sometimes I lose my focus, but I manage to regain it when it matters most. I think that made me a little stronger today,” said TOKIC.

Her compatriot TOFANT also made a successful start, overcoming the Netherlands’ Emine ERNST 3-1 (11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6).

Romania enjoyed a particularly strong session, with four players opening their campaigns with victories. Elena ZAHARIA defeated Sweden’s Angelina BEBAWY 3-1, while Adina DIACONU was convincing against Slovenia’s Katarina STRAZAR, winning 3-0. Ioana SINGEORZAN overcame Hungary’s Judit NAGY in straight games, and Bianca MEI-ROSU also recorded a 3-0 victory against Sweden’s Siri BENJEGÅRD.

Poland’s Katarzyna WEGRZYN and Zuzanna WIELGOS both made winning starts. WEGRZYN defeated Latvia’s Sabina MUSAJEVA 3-0, while WIELGOS recovered from losing the opening game to beat Sweden’s Nomin BAASAN 3-1.

Germany’s Franziska SCHREINER was equally impressive, conceding just eight points in the final two games of her 3-0 victory over Latvia’s Aleksandra JERSOVA.

Luxembourg’s experienced NI Xia Lian overcame Slovenia’s Lara OPEKA 3-1, while Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia defeated Bulgaria’s Maria YOVKOVA in straight games.

France’s Alexia NODIN recorded one of the most dominant results of the day, defeating Kosovo’s Shega HASHANI 3-0 and conceding only two points across the three games.

Other winners included Sweden’s Filippa BERGAND, Austria’s Nina SKERBINZ, Belgium’s Lilou MASSART, Türkiye’s Ece HARAC and Özge YILMAZ, Ukraine’s Solomiya YAREMCHUK, Spain’s Maria BERZOSA, the Netherlands’ Shuohan MEN, Greece’s Aikaterini TOLIOU and Luxembourg’s Enisa SADIKOVIC.

Serbia’s Aneta MAKSUTI also secured a 3-0 victory over Slovenia’s Tjasa NOVAK, setting up a meeting with Poland’s Anna BRZYSKA on Tuesday.

The post ARLIA Takes Centre Stage with Dramatic Comeback Victory in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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