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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[Milica Nikolic]

Serbia’s Reka BEZEG completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the Women’s Singles group stage at the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana, securing her place in the main draw despite losing her opening match. Tuesday’s decisive round also saw several lower-seeded players overturn expectations, with Norway’s Martine TOFTAKER, Lithuania’s Kornelija RILISKYTE, Czechia’s Karin GROFOVA and Russia’s Mariia TAILAKOVA all overcoming higher-seeded opponents. Meanwhile, home favourites Sara TOKIC and Ana TOFANT gave the Slovenian supporters plenty to celebrate.

BEZEG, seeded 114th, faced an uphill battle after losing her opening match 3-1 to Bulgaria’s Tsvetelina GEORGIEVA, the 73rd seed. However, she responded with a stunning straight-games victory over Wales’ Charlotte CAREY, seeded 55th, to keep her qualification hopes alive.

Her fate rested on Tuesday’s final group encounter, when CAREY recovered from two games down to defeat GEORGIEVA 3-2 (9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5). With all three players finishing on one victory and one defeat, BEZEG emerged on top of Group 23 on the game-ratio tie-break, ahead of GEORGIEVA and CAREY.

Another significant upset came in Group 5, where Norway’s Martine TOFTAKER, seeded 89th, defeated Poland’s 37th seed Zuzanna WIELGOS 3-1 (11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6).

TOFTAKER had already beaten Sweden’s Nomin BAASAN in straight games, and her victory over the higher-ranked Polish player completed an unbeaten group campaign.

Another surprise came in Group 15, where Ukraine’s Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO, seeded 80th, overturned expectations to finish ahead of Romania’s Bianca MEI-ROSU, the 47th seed. DYMYTRENKO had already defeated Sweden’s Siri BENJEGÅRD 3-1 before taking the opening game 11-9 against the Romanian favourite. The encounter ended prematurely, but the result was enough to send the Ukrainian into the main draw as group winner, adding another unexpected name to the list of qualifiers in Ljubljana.

Lithuania’s Kornelija RILISKYTE, seeded 82nd, also produced an impressive result against Belgium’s Lilou MASSART, the 45th seed. RILISKYTE recovered from 1-2 down to win a dramatic five-game contest 3-2 (11-8, 12-14, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9).

The Lithuanian had previously defeated Israel’s Elinor DAVIDOV 3-1 and finished top of Group 13 with two victories.

Czechia’s Karin GROFOVA, seeded 74th, joined the list of unexpected group winners after defeating Luxembourg’s 54th seed Enisa SADIKOVIC.

GROFOVA trailed 1-2 before taking control of the final two games to win 3-2 (11-6, 12-14, 7-11, 11-6, 11-1). Her dominant performance in the decider, in which she conceded just one point, secured first place in Group 22.

Russia’s Mariia TAILAKOVA, the 69th seed, also overcame a higher-seeded opponent, defeating Greece’s Aikaterini TOLIOU, seeded 56th, in straight games (11-2, 11-6, 11-9). Having previously beaten Georgia’s Ana NIKOIANI, TAILAKOVA finished Group 24 unbeaten.

One of the most dramatic comebacks of Tuesday’s final round belonged to Sweden’s Filippa BERGAND. The 42nd seed found herself two games down against Hungary’s Nora DOHOCZKI, but refused to surrender.

After losing the opening games 9-11, 9-11, BERGAND fought back to take the next two 11-4 and 11-7 before edging a tense decider 12-10. The victory secured first place in Group 10 and completed her unbeaten campaign.

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

TOKIC, seeded 48th, continued her impressive form with a straight-games victory over Czechia’s Hanka KODET (11-4, 11-5, 11-9), following her opening 3-0 win against England’s Ella PASHLEY.

The Slovenian completed Group 16 without dropping a game, an achievement made even more satisfying by her recovery from disappointment in Mixed Doubles.

Her compatriot TOFANT, seeded 58th, also completed an unbeaten campaign. Following her 3-1 victory over the Netherlands’ Emine ERNST, she defeated Spain’s Elvira RAD 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-4) to secure first place in Group 26.

Italy’s Nicole ARLIA, seeded 34th, followed Monday’s dramatic five-game comeback against Russia’s Valeriia KOTSIUR with a more commanding performance against Norway’s Christine KALVATN.

ARLIA won 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-3) to finish unbeaten in Group 2 and secure her place in the main draw.

Russia’s Elizabet ABRAAMIAN, seeded 35th, also had to work hard to secure her place in the main draw. After taking a two-game lead against Ulyana MIASHCHANSKAYA, ABRAAMIAN was pushed to a decider before prevailing 3-2 (11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6) to finish top of Group 3.

Romania’s Adina DIACONU and Ioana SINGEORZAN both completed unbeaten campaigns. DIACONU, seeded 38th, defeated Austria’s Elina FUCHS 3-0 to win Group 6 without dropping a game, while SINGEORZAN, the 44th seed, overcame Finland’s Marina DONNER 3-1 (11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4) to claim Group 12.

Germany’s Franziska SCHREINER, seeded 39th, was another player to progress without conceding a game. She defeated Finland’s Maria GIRLEA 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-3), following her dominant opening victory against Latvia’s Aleksandra JERSOVA.

Luxembourg’s experienced NI Xia Lian, the 40th seed, continued her successful campaign with a 3-0 victory over Jersey’s Hannah SILCOCK (12-10, 11-5, 12-10), securing first place in Group 8.

Poland’s Katarzyna WEGRZYN, seeded 36th, defeated England’s Tianer YU 3-1 to win Group 4, while Austria’s Nina SKERBINZ, the 43rd seed, overcame Hungary’s Rebeka NAGY 3-1 to finish unbeaten in Group 11.

Spain celebrated victories from Sofia-Xuan ZHANG and Maria BERZOSA. ZHANG, seeded 41st, finished top of Group 9 after defeating Portugal’s Mariana SANTA and Slovakia’s Dominika WILTSCHKOVA, while BERZOSA, the 51st seed, secured Group 19 with a 3-1 victory over Wales’ Danielle KELLY.

Portugal’s Matilde PINTO, seeded 46th, was particularly convincing, winning both Group 14 matches in straight games, including a 3-0 victory over Lizaveta TSIMASHKOVA.

France’s Nina GUO ZHENG, seeded 71st, also progressed without dropping a game, defeating Czechia’s Veronika POLAKOVA and Greece’s Ioanna GERASIMATOU to win Group 27.

Her compatriot Alexia NODIN, the 57th seed, finished first in Group 25, having conceded just two points in her 3-0 victory over Kosovo’s Shega HASHANI. NODIN also received a walkover against Denmark’s Emma VENDELBO.

Türkiye’s Ece HARAC, seeded 49th, secured Group 17 with a 3-1 victory over Estonia’s Airi AVAMERI, while Ukraine’s Solomiya YAREMCHUK, the 50th seed, defeated Lithuania’s Lukrecija JUCHNAITE 3-0 to claim Group 18.

The Netherlands’ Shuohan MEN, seeded 52nd, completed an unbeaten campaign in Group 20 with a 3-1 victory over Portugal’s Julia LEAL, while Moldova’s Alexandra CHIRIACOVA, the 60th seed, finished top of Group 28 after defeating Switzerland’s Fanny DOUTAZ and the Netherlands’ Sanne DE HOOP.

With the group stage concluded for these players, attention now turns to the Women’s Singles main draw, where the qualifiers will join Europe’s leading stars in the battle for the continental title.

The post Reka BEZEG completes remarkable turnaround as lower seeds shine in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Men’s Singles group stage at the 2026 European Championships in Ljubljana produced plenty of surprises, with several lower-seeded players overturning expectations and established names forced to fight for their places in the main draw. The Netherlands’ Ivan KAHN, Norway’s Martin FRØSETH and Finland’s Alex NAUMI were among those who upset the form book, while Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT survived one of the most dramatic encounters of the opening three days.

One of the biggest surprises came in Group 1, where KAHN, seeded 97th, defeated Luxembourg’s Luka MLADENOVIC, the 33rd seed, in a thrilling five-game contest. The Dutch player raced into a two-game lead before MLADENOVIC fought back to level, but KAHN held his nerve in the decider to win 3-2 (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 11-8).

KAHN followed that victory with a 3-1 success against Belgium’s Laurens DEVOS, completing an unbeaten campaign and securing an unexpected place in the main draw.

Norway’s Martin FRØSETH, seeded 95th, delivered another major upset in Group 3. Facing Spain’s Juan PEREZ, the 35th seed, the Norwegian produced an impressive straight-games victory (11-9, 11-9, 11-5).

FRØSETH then defeated Hungary’s David SZANTOSI 3-0 to finish top of the group without dropping a game.

Finland’s Alex NAUMI also made his mark, overcoming Romania’s Darius MOVILEANU in a dramatic five-game encounter. Twice behind in games, NAUMI refused to surrender, eventually prevailing 3-2.

The Finnish player followed that victory with a straight-games success over Heorhi KUNATS to secure first place in Group 9.

Another compelling contest unfolded in Group 6, where Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT found himself on the brink of defeat against Denmark’s Martin ANDERSEN.

VERDONSCHOT trailed 0-1 and 1-2 in games before falling 4-7 behind in the decider. However, he recovered to snatch a remarkable 3-2 victory (10-12, 11-3, 11-13, 11-9, 12-10).

“To be honest, I did not expect such a hard battle. But I knew it was going to be tough because I knew him from the Bundesliga 2, where we had some pretty close matches as well. And the conditions here are completely different from those at China Smash.

“It’s really, really tough for me to play here, but he played very well too. So, yeah, I’m happy to have a bit more time now to adapt and get a better feel for the conditions and the competition,” said VERDONSCHOT.

The German followed his hard-fought victory with a commanding straight-games win against Lithuania’s Ervinas UZIALO, finishing unbeaten in Group 6.

Austria’s Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK also produced a notable result, defeating Portugal’s experienced Joao MONTEIRO 3-1 (11-3, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9). The Austrian backed up that performance with a convincing 3-0 victory over Cyprus’ Christos THEOFANOUS to secure first place in Group 17.

Türkiye’s Görkem ÖÇAL added another surprise by defeating Portugal’s Tiago ABIODUN in straight games (11-5, 11-7, 11-7). However, his toughest challenge came against Iceland’s Ingi RODRIGUEZ, who took the opening two games before ÖÇAL mounted a remarkable recovery to win 3-2 (5-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6).

The two victories sent the Turkish player through as winner of Group 21.

Croatia’s Filip ZELJKO also had to fight back from two games down, overcoming Serbia’s Zsolt PETO 3-2 (7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7). ZELJKO had already defeated Cyprus’ Sharpel ELIA in straight games and finished unbeaten at the top of Group 16.

Another Serbian player, Dimitrije LEVAJAC, enjoyed a successful campaign, winning all three matches in Group 28. His most demanding encounter came against Czechia’s Stepan BRHEL, who recovered from 0-2 to force a deciding game.

LEVAJAC eventually prevailed 3-2 (15-13, 11-5, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6), before completing his unbeaten run with victories over Austria’s Zhenlong LIU and San Marino’s Lorenzo RAGNI.

In Group 15, Spain’s Diego LILLO secured first place following a 3-1 victory over Serbia’s Uros NINKOVIC. The Serbian had previously recovered from 1-2 down to defeat Austria’s Andreas LEVENKO 3-2 (11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9), but LILLO proved too strong in their direct encounter.

Italy’s John OYEBODE also survived a five-game battle, defeating Greece’s Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS 3-2 (11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-13, 11-7). OYEBODE had established a two-game advantage before being forced into a decider, but regained control to secure the victory. He then overcame Latvia’s Arturs RUDNIKOVS 3-1 to win Group 22.

Germany’s Kay STUMPER emerged unbeaten from Group 26 after another dramatic contest. Poland’s Mateusz ZALEWSKI twice took the lead, but STUMPER fought back to win 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7). The German also defeated Italy’s Francesco TREVISAN and Kosovo’s Kreshnik MAHMUTI in straight games.

Evgeny TIKHONOV produced one of the strongest comebacks in Group 27, recovering from two games down against Spain’s Daniel BERZOSA. After losing the opening games 9-11, 9-11, TIKHONOV responded with three convincing games, winning 3-2 (9-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6). Further victories over San Marino’s Federico GIARDI and North Macedonia’s Kristijan STANOJKOVSKI completed his unbeaten campaign.

Hungary’s Adam SZUDI also survived a five-game test, defeating Czechia’s Ondrej KVETON 3-2 (11-8, 5-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-7) to finish top of Group 20.

Among the more established names, England’s Liam PITCHFORD advanced without dropping a game, defeating Italy’s Danilo FASO and Finland’s Aleksi RASANEN in straight games to win Group 19.

Greece’s Panagiotis GIONIS was equally convincing, recording 3-0 victories over Luxembourg’s Mael VAN DESSEL and Israel’s Itay AVIVI to finish unbeaten in Group 14.

Austria’s Robert GARDOS also completed a flawless group campaign, defeating Finland’s Lassi LEHTOLA and Estonia’s Madis MOOS in straight games.

Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA faced a more difficult path, needing five games to overcome Slovenia’s Peter HRIBAR. The experienced Portuguese player prevailed 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4) to secure first place in Group 5.

Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU, Slovakia’s Yang WANG and Sweden’s Elias RANEFUR all progressed unbeaten, while Norway’s Borgar HAUG completed Group 8 without conceding a game.

Hungary’s Csaba ANDRAS and England’s Connor GREEN also finished their respective groups with two victories, as did Finland’s Benedek OLAH.

Poland’s Maciej KUBIK secured three victories in Group 23, including a five-game success over Spain’s Miguel PANTOJA, while Romania’s Andrei ISTRATE completed an unbeaten campaign in Group 25.

France’s Leo DE NODREST also impressed, overcoming Poland’s Marek BADOWSKI 3-1 before defeating Ukraine’s Nazar TRETIAK and Bulgaria’s Petyo KRASTEV to finish top of Group 32.

Türkiye’s Abdullah YIGENLER won all three matches in Group 30, while the remaining completed groups continued to underline the depth of competition in Ljubljana.

With a series of unexpected results, dramatic recoveries and impressive performances from emerging players, the group stage has provided an exciting introduction to the Men’s Singles competition as attention turns to the knockout rounds.

The post Upsets, dramatic comebacks and five-game battles shape Men’s Singles main draw in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The 2026 Congress held today in Ljubljana recognised individuals whose dedication and service have made a lasting contribution to the development of European table tennis.

Upon the proposal of the ETTU Executive Board, delegates appointed Raúl CALIN of Spain as an ETTU Honorary Member by acclamation, recognising his outstanding contribution to the sport over more than three decades.

In an emotional acceptance speech, CALIN reflected on his journey in table tennis, which began in Panama in 1989, and his 25 years with the International Table Tennis Federation.

“My passion for our sport began in 1989, when I discovered table tennis in Panama. I was already 17 years old when I first became involved in the sport. For the first 11 years, I worked entirely as a volunteer. Like many of you here today, I took on different roles within the sport. I was a player, a coach, an umpire, a technical official and eventually a referee.”

CALIN, who began his professional career with the ITTF in 2001, emphasised the importance of recognising the people who dedicate their time to the sport.

“One of the most important lessons I learned was the need to maintain a balance between the professionalisation of our sport and the essential contribution of volunteers. As federations become increasingly professional in their structures and staffing, we must never forget to recognise and appreciate the extraordinary work carried out by volunteers – whether they serve on boards, within member associations or at club level.”

CALIN also praised the unity within ETTU and its efforts to preserve the traditions of European table tennis while continuing to modernise.

“Standing here in front of you, I can truly see and feel the unity of the European Table Tennis Union family. I can see the cooperation between the President, the Executive Board and the staff, and I sincerely encourage all of you to continue along this path.”

ETTU Badges of Honour were also awarded to Prof. Dr. Veli Ozan ÇAKIR of Türkiye, Esko HEIKKINEN of Finland, Margaryta Anatoliivna PESOTSKA of Ukraine and Darijan VIZJAK of Slovenia, in recognition of their contributions to European table tennis.

Photo: Henk HOMMES

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[Milica Nikolic]

The ETTU Congress in Ljubljana approved significant changes to the European competition structure, including a new championship event, revised youth formats and additional qualification opportunities for players at senior level.

The Congress approved an experimental format for the team events at the 2027 European Youth Championships, covering the Under 15 and Under 19 Boys’ and Girls’ categories.

Under the new system, team results will be determined by the number of individual games won rather than individual matches. The existing team composition will remain unchanged, with two players in the Under 15 categories and three in the Under 19 categories. Each individual match will consist of three games, producing a total of 15 games per team match. All 15 games will be played during the group stage, while knockout matches will conclude as soon as one team reaches eight games. The format will be tested in 2027 and evaluated after the Championships.

Further changes will bring greater consistency to European youth competitions. All singles matches at the European Youth Championships, including the knockout rounds, will now be played over the best of five games instead of seven. The same change applies to the Europe Youth Top 10 in both the Under 15 and Under 19 categories, reducing the physical demands on young players.

The Europe Youth Top 10 will also introduce a revised qualification system, reflecting the decision to move the tournament to the spring. Qualification will be based on the relevant European Under 15 and Under 19 rankings published at least seven weeks before the event, rather than the previously specified August rankings.

In addition, the reigning Europe Youth Top 10 Under 15 champion will receive direct entry into the following Under 19 event. The change recognises the achievement of the Under 15 winner and supports the transition to the higher age category.

Another important development concerns the pathway from youth to senior competition. The winner of the Under 19 singles event at the Europe Youth Top 10 will receive an automatic place at the following European Championships (Individual Events), in addition to the existing quota allocated to their Member Association. This opportunity complements the automatic places already granted to the winner, runner-up and losing semi-finalists of the European Under 21 Championships singles events.

At senior level, the Europe Top 16 Cup will introduce up to two ETTU wild cards in each event, allowing players whose current level may not yet be reflected in the European Rankings to participate. The overall field will remain unchanged at 22 players per event, with the number of ranking-based places adjusted accordingly.

The amended regulations also clarify that if the reigning European Champion and the previous Europe Top 16 Cup winner are the same player, the vacant place will be allocated to the next highest-ranked eligible player.

Together, these decisions aim to modernise European competitions, establish more consistent youth formats and strengthen the pathway from junior success to senior international competition.

Photo: Henk HOMMES

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[Milica Nikolic]

Major changes to European competitions, new opportunities for young players and important steps towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games marked the 2026 ETTU Congress, held at Ljubljana Castle alongside the European Championships. With the attendance of 42 Member Associations, the Congress approved a series of decisions that will shape the future of European table tennis, while ETTU President Pedro MOURA highlighted a year of growth, innovation and investment in the sport.

The Congress was chaired by ETTU President Pedro MOURA and attended by ITTF President Petra SÖRLING, while Slovenian Table Tennis Association President Tomaž KRALJ welcomed delegates on behalf of the host Association.

Opening the Congress, MOURA reflected on the progress achieved under the ETTU Strategic Plan 2023-2028.

“One year ago, in Zadar, we shared our ambitions for the future of European table tennis. Today, I am pleased to say that we have continued turning those ambitions into concrete achievements. The past twelve months have been a year of growth, innovation and important investment in the future of our sport.”

“Guided by our Strategic Plan 2023–2028, we have continued to modernise ETTU, strengthen our competitions and create new opportunities for our Member Associations, clubs, athletes and officials.”

Among the achievements, MOURA highlighted the continued success of the HYLO Champions League Men Final 4 in Saarbrücken and the introduction of the Champions League Women Final 4 in Tarnobrzeg, followed by a major investment planned for the coming season.

“With the purpose of making this competition more attractive, both to clubs and eventual partners, ETTU will invest, next season more than 100,000 Eur in a new Women Champions League model of competition. The new system, a real league system, will guide the teams to the Final 4, this time to be held in Metz.”

“With 109 clubs from 27 Member Associations participating in our club competitions, we continue to demonstrate the strength of European club table tennis.”

President MOURA also underlined the progress made in broadcasting, marketing and digital communication.

“Our social media platforms have generated more than 200 million views, reaching new audiences around the world. Our competitions are attracting greater media attention, and our partnerships continue to strengthen. This growth is not only about visibility. It is about creating value and generating new resources for European table tennis.”

Turning to the financial strategy, he explained the decision to reinvest part of the significant surplus achieved in 2024 in the development and modernisation of ETTU.

“Our 2025 financial statements reflect this strategy, with a controlled deficit and strong financial reserves. At the same time, we have reinforced financial oversight and internal controls, maintaining our commitment to transparency, accountability and responsible management.”

“Looking ahead, the proposed 2027 budget anticipates a return to surplus while continuing to support our development ambitions. Our objective is clear: financial growth must translate into sporting development and better services for our Member Associations.”

Development and athlete welfare were also central to President’s address, with particular attention given to EUROSPINS, the Participation Programme, Eurotalents activities, coaching education and the new Competition Management School.

“Development remains at the heart of our mission. The EUROSPINS programme, developed with our Asian partners, is opening exciting new opportunities for our most promising young players.”

“We have also introduced dedicated scholarships for young Para athletes, reinforcing our commitment to equal opportunities.”

MOURA also highlighted the introduction of new safeguarding measures and the importance of listening to Member Associations, pointing to the youth competition consultation involving associations.

Looking ahead to 2027, he emphasised the importance of the European Games in Istanbul and the European Para Table Tennis Championships in Geneva, which ETTU will organise for the first time.

Concluding his address, MOURA thanked ITTF President Petra SÖRLING, the European representatives on the ITTF Executive Board, his Executive Board colleagues, ETTU staff and Member Associations for their cooperation and commitment.

“Our ambition is not simply to make ETTU bigger. It is to make ETTU better, stronger, more sustainable and closer to its Member Associations. Together, I am confident that we will continue moving European table tennis forward.”

ITTF President Petra SÖRLING addressed the Congress during the year in which the International Table Tennis Federation celebrates its centenary. Reflecting on the organisation’s European roots and the first World Championships held in London in 1926, she emphasised the importance of strengthening services and investment for Member Associations.

“But a centenary is not only a moment to look back. It is a moment to decide what kind of federation we want to be for the next 100 years. My answer is clear: a federation that serves its members, listens to them and invests in them,” said SÖRLING.

ITTF President highlighted the adoption of the new ITTF Constitution, increased allocations to continental federations and the establishment of a dedicated Member Associations Department. SÖRLING also praised ETTU’s work, particularly its safeguarding initiatives.

“ETTU is a strong and trusted partner. You lead, you innovate, and you deliver on the highest level,” she added.

Welcoming the delegates, Slovenian Table Tennis Association President Tomaž KRALJ expressed his pride in hosting both the European Championships and the Congress.

“I strongly believe that table tennis is more than a sport. It connects people, generations and nations, and it creates friendships that go far beyond the table,” said KRALJ, wishing delegates a productive Congress and an enjoyable stay in Slovenia.

The Congress approved the 2025 Financial Statements, the independent Audit Report and the report of the ETTU Audit Commission, following their presentation at the Finance and Propositions & Resolutions Webinar on 7 October.

The Congress also elected three members of the ETTU Audit Commission: Joshua REYNOLDS of England, Michael GEIGER of Germany and Diogo Rafael SOUSA ROVISCO of Portugal.

The Congress featured a presentation by ITTF Chief of Staff Tristan LAVIER, highlighting the cooperation between ITTF and ETTU and opportunities to further strengthen their partnership in the development of table tennis.

Photo by Henk HOMMES

The post ETTU Congress in Ljubljana charts the future of European table tennis first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Defending champions Alexis and Félix LEBRUN of France continued their title defence at the European Championships in Ljubljana, while Serbia’s Uroš NINKOVIC and Zsolt PETO celebrated a remarkable breakthrough as the Men’s Doubles quarterfinal line-up was completed. Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Dang QIU produced an extraordinary comeback, Moldova’s Vladislav URSU and Andrei PUTUNTICA survived a five-game battle, and Belgium’s Adrien RASSENFOSSE and Martin ALLEGRO also came through a dramatic encounter.

The LEBRUN brothers faced a challenging test against Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC and Deni KOZUL, with the home favourites pushing them all the way in the opening game. The French pair eventually prevailed 15-13 before taking the next two games 11-9 and 11-8 to complete a 3-0 victory.

Despite the straight-games scoreline, the match was far from comfortable for the defending champions.

“It’s always difficult to play against Darko and Kozul. It was a tough match. We won the first game by a very narrow margin, and the second was also close. It could have been much more difficult, so we are very happy to win 3-0,” said Alexis LEBRUN.

The victory keeps the French brothers on course to defend the European title they won in Linz two years ago.

“We are still on the road. We are in the quarterfinals, so we are happy about that. We have just beaten a very strong pair, which gives us confidence for the rest of the tournament. We will see what happens next,” said Felix LEBRUN.

With both brothers competing in singles and doubles, managing their demanding schedule is another challenge.

“I’m very happy to finish early today! I hope I won’t have to play the last match of the evening session every time. Of course, competing in three draws is not easy, but for the moment I feel good,” said Alexis.

Felix added: “It’s a tough schedule, of course, but we are starting to get used to it. The last time I had a similar situation, travelling from Asia to Europe, I played really well. I hope it will be the same this week.”

One of the most emotional victories of the day belonged to Serbia’s Zsolt PETO and 18-year-old Uroš NINKOVIC, who defeated Slovakia’s Jakub ZELINKA and Lubomir PISTEJ in a five-game thriller.

The Serbian pair, competing together for the first time, took the opening game 11-8 before the Slovaks levelled. PETO and NINKOVIC regained the advantage by taking the third 12-10, but their opponents forced a decider. The fifth game was another tense battle, with the Serbians eventually prevailing 13-11 to secure their place among Europe’s top eight pairs.

For NINKOVIC, who turns 19 in approximately ten days, the achievement was almost impossible to comprehend.

“This is an enormous achievement for me. Honestly, I never imagined I could reach the last eight in Europe in any category, let alone at senior level. I haven’t even achieved that in juniors this year! It’s really something special, and I still can’t quite believe what we’ve accomplished,” said NINKOVIC.

The young Serbian admitted that the closing stages tested his nerves.

“We were leading 1-0, then 2-1, and we also had the lead in the fifth game. At 11-10, I was definitely nervous, but fortunately I had my more experienced partner beside me to take responsibility when it mattered most.”

For the experienced PETO, the unexpected success has made their first tournament together particularly memorable.

“It’s an unbelievable story because this is actually the first time we’ve played together. At the beginning, I thought we would just enjoy ourselves, play some doubles and see how far we could go. But here we are, one victory away from a medal!” said PETO.

The Serbian player, who revealed that he had been ill at the beginning of the Championships, hopes their remarkable run is not over.

“I was actually ill at the start of the Championships, and quite a few people have already joked that I play better when I’m sick than when I’m healthy! We’ve had some incredible moments throughout the tournament. I wouldn’t say we’ve won because of luck, but perhaps luck has finally started to follow us a little. I hope this isn’t where our journey stops. We want to keep going tomorrow. We want a medal,” said PETO.

Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Dang QIU staged another remarkable comeback, recovering from two games down to defeat Russia’s Evgenii TIKHONOV and Vladimir SIDORENKO 3-2 (8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-0).

TIKHONOV and SIDORENKO made an excellent start, taking the opening two games and moving within one game of the quarterfinals. However, DUDA and QIU responded with greater consistency, narrowing the deficit before levelling the contest. The deciding game was completely one-sided, with the German pair winning 11-0 to complete an extraordinary turnaround.

Moldova’s Vladislav URSU and Andrei PUTUNTICA also needed five games to secure their quarterfinal place, overcoming Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT and Andre BERTELSMEIER 3-2 (8-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4).

The German combination twice took the lead, winning the opening game and then edging a closely contested third 12-10. However, the Moldovan pair responded strongly on both occasions. After dominating the fourth game, URSU and PUTUNTICA carried their momentum into the decider.

“The match was very evenly balanced throughout. We were always close, at 5-5 or 6-6. I think the turning point came in the fifth game when we were leading 5-4. I played a slightly unusual backhand shot towards the middle to make it 6-4. I felt that point gave us a lot of confidence. Otherwise, the whole match was extremely close,” explained PUTUNTICA.

The Moldovan duo, both left-handed, arrived in Ljubljana without particularly high expectations in Doubles, but their impressive run has continued into the last eight.

“We came here as two left-handed players without particularly high expectations. We had played together before and performed well, but against stronger opponents it was always difficult. So far, things have been going well. This was actually the first time we lost two games, as we had won all our previous matches 3-0. We just want to keep enjoying ourselves. That’s our goal,” said URSU.

Sweden’s Anton KÄLLBERG and Kristian KARLSSON overcame Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS and Tiago APOLONIA 3-1 (11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 15-13) in another closely contested encounter.

The Swedish pair took a tight opening game before the Portuguese combination levelled the contest. KÄLLBERG and KARLSSON regained the advantage in the third, but faced another stern test in the fourth, where they had to save several game points before prevailing 15-13.

“It wasn’t easy at all. You could see from the scores, 11-9 and 15-13, how close it was. We had to save several game points in the final game. It was a very tight 3-1 victory, and we are extremely happy that we managed to win the match the way we did in the end,” said KÄLLBERG.

KARLSSON is already looking forward to the next challenge against familiar opponents.

“We know our next opponents very well. We all live in Düsseldorf and have been practising together there for a long time. It will be a very tough match, and we are looking forward to it,” said KARLSSON.

France will have another pair in the quarterfinals after Esteban DORR and Florian BOURRASSAUD defeated Sweden’s Elias RANEFUR and Truls MOREGARD 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9).

The Swedish combination took the opening game, but DORR and BOURRASSAUD responded by winning three consecutive games. All three were closely contested, with the French pair showing greater composure at the decisive moments to secure their place in the last eight.

Belgium’s Adrien RASSENFOSSE and Martin ALLEGRO also produced an impressive comeback, defeating Croatia’s Andrej GACINA and Ivor BAN 3-2 (6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-5).

The Croatian pair established a two-game advantage and appeared to be heading towards victory, but the Belgians fought back strongly. After taking the third game, RASSENFOSSE and ALLEGRO survived a tense fourth, winning 13-11 to force a decider. They then took control of the fifth game to complete their comeback.

Finland’s Alex NAUMI and Benedek OLAH completed the quarterfinal line-up with a 3-1 victory over the Czech-Croatian combination of Simon BRHEL and Luka BENKO (11-7, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8).

The Finnish pair established a two-game advantage after edging a tight second game 14-12. BRHEL and BENKO responded by winning the third, but NAUMI and OLAH regained control in the fourth to secure their place among the last eight.

Men’s Doubles – Round of 16 results

• Félix LEBRUN / Alexis LEBRUN (FRA) – Darko JORGIC / Deni KOZUL (SLO) 3-0 (15-13, 11-9, 11-8)
• Benedikt DUDA / Dang QIU (GER) – Evgenii TIKHONOV / Vladimir SIDORENKO (ETTU2) 3-2 (8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-0)
• Vladislav URSU / Andrei PUTUNTICA (MDA) – Wim VERDONSCHOT / Andre BERTELSMEIER (GER) 3-2 (8-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4)
• Anton KÄLLBERG / Kristian KARLSSON (SWE) – Marcos FREITAS / Tiago APOLONIA (POR) 3-1 (11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 15-13)
• Esteban DORR / Florian BOURRASSAUD (FRA) – Elias RANEFUR / Truls MOREGARD (SWE) 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9)
• Adrien RASSENFOSSE / Martin ALLEGRO (BEL) – Andrej GACINA / Ivor BAN (CRO) 3-2 (6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-5)
• Alex NAUMI / Benedek OLAH (FIN) – Simon BRHEL / Luka BENKO (CZE/CRO) 3-1 (11-7, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8)
• Zsolt PETO / Uroš NINKOVIC (SRB) – Jakub ZELINKA / Lubomir PISTEJ (SVK) 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 13-11)

The post LEBRUN brothers stay on course as NINKOVIC and PETO produce Serbian breakthrough in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The Women’s Doubles quarterfinal line-up at the European Championships in Ljubljana is complete following eight Round of 16 encounters, with top seeds Bernadette SZOCS and Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania advancing alongside strong performances from Germany, France and Poland. Serbia’s Sabina ŠURJAN and Izabela LUPULESKU produced the most dramatic comeback of the day, recovering from two games down to keep their medal hopes alive.

Top seeds Bernadette SZOCS and Elizabeta SAMARA continued their campaign with a straight-games victory over Croatia’s Lea RAKOVAC and Hana ARAPOVIC (11-9, 11-8, 11-6). Although the Croatian pair remained competitive throughout the opening stages of each game, the experienced Romanian combination showed greater consistency and composure at the decisive moments.

“We both played very well. We complemented each other perfectly, and I think that was the key to winning the match. We are very positive about the next round because we played really well together,” said SZOCS.

The Romanian player highlighted communication and anticipation as the decisive factors.

“The most important thing was communication. We knew where the ball was going and where we needed to move. We also avoided making easy mistakes. Our opponents played amazingly well at the beginning of the games, but they tended to make mistakes towards the end. We knew it would be a difficult match, so we stayed focused from the very beginning. I think our shots had more quality, and our ball placement prevented them from playing their own game,” explained SAMARA.

France’s Prithika PAVADE and Charlotte LUTZ, seeded 11th, delivered one of the standout performances of the day, defeating fourth seeds Andreea DRAGOMAN and Adina DIACONU of Romania in straight games (14-12, 11-5, 11-7).

The opening game proved crucial, with the French pair prevailing 14-12. From that moment, PAVADE and LUTZ took control, maintaining their attacking rhythm and putting their opponents under pressure.

“It was definitely not an easy match. The first game was really tight, and we managed to win it. After that, I think we dominated, but we had to stay focused on every point because we felt they could come back at any moment,” said PAVADE.

The French combination have set their sights on reaching at least the semifinals, although LUTZ stressed the importance of approaching each match without unnecessary pressure.

“We have very big goals in this tournament. We really want to reach the semifinal and even further if possible. But we will prepare for the next match as usual, treating it like a normal match so we don’t put too much pressure on ourselves. Whoever we face, it will be tough. We will prepare as well as possible and give 100 percent,” said LUTZ.

Second seeds Annett KAUFMANN and Nina MITTELHAM of Germany also secured their place in the last eight, overcoming Sweden’s Christina KÄLLBERG and Filippa BERGAND 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5).

The German pair established a two-game advantage before the Swedes responded by taking the third. However, KAUFMANN and MITTELHAM quickly regained control, dominating the fourth game to close out the contest.

In another German success, sixth seeds Xiaona SHAN and Sabine WINTER defeated Luxembourg’s Xia Lian NI and Sarah DE NUTTE, seeded 12th, in four games (11-8, 9-11, 11-2, 13-11).

After sharing the opening two games, the German duo produced a commanding display in the third, allowing their opponents just two points. The fourth proved much tighter, with the Luxembourg pair fighting to extend the contest, but SHAN and WINTER held their nerve to seal victory 13-11.

The most dramatic encounter of the day saw Serbia’s Sabina ŠURJAN and Izabela LUPULESKU recover from two games down to defeat Italy’s Gaia MONFARDINI and Nicole ARLIA 3-2 (7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 14-12, 11-2).

The Serbian duo, bronze medallists at the 2024 European Championships in Linz, struggled in the opening stages as the Italians established a commanding advantage. However, ŠURJAN and LUPULESKU refused to surrender, edging two extremely tight games before dominating the decider.

“I think we started playing in a very nervous and almost panicky way. We are defending our medal from Linz, and I personally felt a lot of pressure. But after going 0-2 down, we managed to calm ourselves, started taking it point by point and began playing much smarter. I think that was the key to turning the match around,” explained ŠURJAN.

LUPULESKU highlighted the strong emotional connection between the two players and the importance of supporting each other during difficult moments.

“I draw a lot of energy from Sabina. If she is nervous, I become nervous too. If she is calm, I become even calmer. In our partnership, Sabina is usually the one who finishes the points, while I create opportunities and set things up for her. When things aren’t going well for her, I try to take more responsibility and help her regain her confidence,” said LUPULESKU.

The Serbian player admitted that the pair had not produced their best performance but was delighted with their fighting spirit.

“As my father always says, the quality of great players is that they find a way to win even when they aren’t playing well. That’s the attitude we’re taking forward. We are going into the quarterfinals with confidence, and we’ll see what happens,” added LUPULESKU.

Poland’s Zuzanna WIELGOS and Anna BRZYSKA also progressed to the quarterfinals after defeating Anna HURSEY of Wales and Tin-Tin HO of England 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7).

The Polish combination established an early advantage by winning the first two games, but HURSEY and HO responded strongly in the third. However, WIELGOS and BRZYSKA regained control in the fourth to secure their place in the last eight.

BRZYSKA pointed to the importance of the opening game, when the Polish pair saw a comfortable lead almost disappear.

“It was a very difficult match because we knew they were very strong opponents, even though we had never played against them before. We had a very good tactical plan and knew how we wanted to play. I think the first game was a key moment. We were leading 10-6, but they came back to 10-9. We took a timeout and managed to win the game 11-9. That was very important for us,” explained BRZYSKA.

Looking ahead to the quarterfinals, the Polish player stressed that their focus had been entirely on the Round of 16 encounter.

“We hadn’t really thought about the next match because we were concentrating on this one. Now we will discuss it and prepare our tactics. I think we played against our next opponents once before, a long time ago in the junior category, and it was a very close match. We hope we can win tomorrow,” said BRZYSKA.

Mariia TAILAKOVA and Elizabet ABRAAMIAN of Russia, produced a convincing straight-games victory over Portugal’s Julia LEAL and Matilde PINTO (11-5, 11-8, 11-5).

The Russia’s pair controlled the match from the beginning, maintaining their advantage throughout the contest and allowing their Portuguese opponents few opportunities to establish a rhythm.

” Of course, it was a tough match. Yesterday, we also had a very difficult match against France, and coming back from 0-2 gave us a lot of motivation and confidence. We understood better how we needed to play. Today, in my opinion, we performed much better and were well prepared. We watched our opponents’ previous match, analysed their game and knew exactly which tactics we needed to use. We listened to each other and communicated a lot. Everything worked well, and I’m very happy with this victory,” said ABRAAMIAN.

TAILAKOVA: “I think the most important thing was the connection between us. This is only the third time we have played together, and at first and second didn’t go very well. Now we have talked a lot about how to approach matches, how to communicate and what to say to each other during play. I think we have developed a very good connection, and that was the key today.”

In the remaining encounter, Slovakia’s Tatiana KUKULKOVA and Poland’s Natalia BAJOR overcame Spain’s Sofia-Xuan ZHANG and Elvira RAD 3-1 (11-9, 7-11, 11-0, 12-10).

After taking the opening game, BAJOR and KUKULKOVA saw the Spanish pair level the match. However, they responded emphatically, winning the third game 11-0 before facing a much tougher challenge in the fourth.

The Polish-Slovak combination had led 7-4 but found themselves trailing 7-8, prompting a crucial timeout. They eventually prevailed 12-10 to complete the victory.

“We started very well, but after the second game, I think our opponents found better tactics against us. At 1-1, we started attacking more and won the third game 11-0. The fourth game was very important. We were leading 7-4, but suddenly we were trailing 7-8. We called a timeout, and I think that was a very important moment,” explained BAJOR.

KUKULKOVA praised her partner’s performance and the tactical adjustments made at the decisive stage.

“First of all, Natalia played very well. I didn’t play so well, but I’m getting better! During the timeout, we spoke with our coaches, who told us what we needed to change tactically, and fortunately it worked. At 10-10, we changed our receive slightly, and that also worked. It was very important to win 3-1 because, if it had gone to 2-2, the deciding game would have been 50-50,” said KUKULKOVA.

The pair, who won bronze together at the 2024 European Championships in Linz, are now looking to continue their successful partnership with another strong result in Ljubljana.

Women’s Doubles – Round of 16 results

• Bernadette SZOCS / Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) – Lea RAKOVAC / Hana ARAPOVIC (CRO) 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-6)
• Prithika PAVADE / Charlotte LUTZ (FRA) – Andreea DRAGOMAN / Adina DIACONU (ROU) 3-0 (14-12, 11-5, 11-7)
• Annett KAUFMANN / Nina MITTELHAM (GER) – Christina KÄLLBERG / Filippa BERGAND (SWE) 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5)
• Xiaona SHAN / Sabine WINTER (GER) – Xia Lian NI / Sarah DE NUTTE (LUX) 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-2, 13-11)
• Zuzanna WIELGOS / Anna BRZYSKA (POL) – Anna HURSEY / Tin-Tin HO (WAL/ENG) 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7)
• Mariia TAILAKOVA / Elizabet ABRAAMIAN (ETTU2) – Julia LEAL / Matilde PINTO (POR) 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-5)
• Sabina ŠURJAN / Izabela LUPULESKU (SRB) – Gaia MONFARDINI / Nicole ARLIA (ITA) 3-2 (7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 14-12, 11-2)
• Tatiana KUKULKOVA / Natalia BAJOR (SVK/POL) – Sofia-Xuan ZHANG / Elvira RAD (ESP) 3-1 (11-9, 7-11, 11-0, 12-10)

The post Defending medallists survive dramatic battles as Women’s Doubles quarterfinal line-up is confirmed in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Romania’s Eduard IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS, Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Nina MITTELHAM, Sweden’s Kristian KARLSSON and Christina KÄLLBERG, and France’s Alexis LEBRUN and Charlotte LUTZ have secured medals at the European Championships in Ljubljana after advancing to the Mixed Doubles semifinals.

See the photos by Jure MARKOVEC here.

Two quarterfinals went the full five games, with Romania and France surviving dramatic finishes, while Germany and Sweden progressed in straight games. With bronze medals guaranteed to all four semifinalist pairs, the focus now turns to the battle for the European title.

For Bernadette SZOCS, the 3-2 victory alongside Eduard IONESCU over France’s Thibault PORET and Prithika PAVADE was particularly emotional. The Romanian pair recovered from losing the opening game and held their nerve in a tense decider to prevail 9-11, 13-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9.

“I am so happy and excited. I cannot describe how I feel right now. It was a very difficult match. Our opponents were leading, but we stayed positive and kept fighting. I think the key was how well we complement each other,” said SZOCS.

The Romanian star, who arrived in Ljubljana with 13 European Championship medals, including three gold, highlighted the understanding she has developed with IONESCU, both at the table and away from competition.

“We knew it would be a very difficult match, and we had prepared several tactics. Sometimes I was down, sometimes he was down, but we knew how to keep each other positive. We complement each other very well, and I think it also helps that we are good friends away from the table.”

Although this is their first European Championships together, the Romanian combination had already demonstrated its potential on the WTT circuit.

“Of course I am happy about the medal. This is our first European Championships playing together, and we have already achieved some amazing results on the WTT circuit. I believed we could win a medal because we play so well together. Now we want to relax a little because it was an unbelievably tough match, and then we will prepare for our next opponents.”

Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Nina MITTELHAM continued their impressive campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Moldova’s Alexandra CHIRIACOVA and Vladislav URSU (12-10, 11-5, 11-9).

The German pair had already produced one of the biggest surprises of the competition by eliminating defending champions and top seeds Álvaro ROBLES and Maria XIAO of Spain in the Round of 16. They followed that performance with another composed display, overcoming a tight opening game before taking control of the quarterfinal.

For MITTELHAM, the result guarantees another medal in a distinguished European Championship career. The German, who entered Ljubljana with nine European Championship medals, won the Mixed Doubles title in 2020 and is now assured of another podium finish in the same event.

Sweden’s Kristian KARLSSON and Christina KÄLLBERG were equally impressive, defeating Portugal’s Miguel SANTA and João GERALDO 3-0 (13-11, 11-7, 11-2).

After edging a closely contested opening game, the Swedish pair grew increasingly dominant, producing an assured performance to secure their place among Europe’s leading four combinations.

“I think we played a really good match from start to finish, just like in the Round of 16 yesterday. When we are aggressive and follow up each other as well as we did today, we know we are a very tough match for anyone,” said KARLSSON.

For KÄLLBERG, the victory brought a particularly special milestone: her first European Championship medal. However, the Swedish player made it clear that the pair’s ambitions extend beyond reaching the podium.

“It feels incredible. To claim a medal here is something I’ve dreamt of and fought for, for a very long time. However, when we’re playing at this level, there’s no reason to celebrate yet, as we have our eyes on the gold,” said KÄLLBERG.

France’s Alexis LEBRUN and Charlotte LUTZ completed the semifinal line-up after surviving another five-game thriller against Luxembourg’s Luka MLADENOVIC and NI Xia Lian.

The French combination prevailed 3-2 (13-11, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9), with the deciding game remaining on a knife-edge until the final two points.

“It was not the best combination at the end, but we managed to win those two points for 11-9 in the fifth. I took some risks on the return, so I’m very happy and proud of us. It was a great match, very difficult and very strange, so I’m very happy to secure this medal,” said LEBRUN.

For LUTZ, the result represented her first European Championship medal, achieved after a contest that tested the French pair’s nerves and tactical flexibility.

“For me, it’s the first medal ever, so I’m very happy that we managed to win this match in the end. It was a really difficult situation for us, but we found solutions to win the fifth game. It was very stressful, but we made the right choices at the end,” said LUTZ.

Looking ahead to the semifinals, she added:

“I think the semifinal will be a different kind of match, so we will be able to play our table tennis, maybe even a little better.”

The defeat ended the Mixed Doubles campaign of Luxembourg’s NI Xia Lian, one of the most decorated players in European table tennis history. The two-time European Women’s Singles champion has seven European Championship medals to her name, including three gold.

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinal results

• Benedikt DUDA / Nina MITTELHAM (GER) beat Alexandra CHIRIACOVA / Vladislav URSU (MDA) 3-0 (12-10, 11-5, 11-9)
• Eduard IONESCU / Bernadette SZOCS (ROU) beat Thibault PORET / Prithika PAVADE (FRA) 3-2 (9-11, 13-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9)
• Kristian KARLSSON / Christina KÄLLBERG (SWE) beat Miguel SANTA / João GERALDO (POR) 3-0 (13-11, 11-7, 11-2)
• Alexis LEBRUN / Charlotte LUTZ (FRA) beat Luka MLADENOVIC / NI Xia Lian (LUX) 3-2 (13-11, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9)

The post Four nations celebrate Mixed Doubles medals after dramatic quarterfinal battles in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC produced a remarkable comeback in front of his home crowd at the European Championships in Ljubljana, recovering from 2-3 down to defeat Spain’s Diego LILLO 4-3 in a thrilling Men’s Singles Round of 64 encounter. Defending champion Alexis LEBRUN, his younger brother Félix LEBRUN and several other leading contenders also advanced as the Singles main draw got underway at Arena Stožice.

JORGIC, the fourth seed, faced a much tougher opening test than expected against the Spanish qualifier, who grew in confidence as the contest developed.

The Slovenian took the opening game 11-4 but struggled to establish control. LILLO fought back repeatedly and, after winning the fourth and fifth games, moved within one game of a major upset.

With his home supporters urging him on, JORGIC found another gear. He claimed the sixth game 11-8 before finally imposing his authority in the decider, winning 11-6 to complete a dramatic 4-3 victory (11-4, 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6).

“It was similar at the last European Championships in Linz. I played a Hungarian in the first round and a Norwegian in the second, and both matches were really tough. You can feel the pressure, especially when you’re one of the favourites,” admitted JORGIC.

“The first few matches are always different when you’re up against qualifiers who have already played three matches and are warmed up. You could tell that I wasn’t quite finding my rhythm. I was too stiff on the return and struggled to deal with his long and short serves. That was the key.”

JORGIC acknowledged that the Spaniard had taken advantage of his difficulties.

“If I’d got that right from the start, like I did in the final game, the score probably would have been 4-0. After the second game, the Spaniard started playing better and hit some really powerful shots, especially off his backhand. He gained confidence, and in the end, it turned into a really close match that could have gone either way right until the finish.”

The Slovenian also highlighted the challenge of adapting to the conditions in the arena.

“The balls are fast, they don’t bounce much, and they have a lot of spin. That’s table tennis, though. Every playing surface is different. I think I felt the biggest difference on his long, fast serves. The ball seemed to skid off the table, and I was often a fraction too late.”

Despite the difficulties, JORGIC was optimistic about improving in the next round.

“The quicker you adapt, the better you play. The guys coming through qualifying have already played a few matches, so they’re warmed up and in rhythm. I’ve played doubles, which isn’t quite the same, but it still helps you get into the flow of competition. Tomorrow is a new day, and I really hope I can play better.”

Defending champion Alexis LEBRUN makes commanding start

France’s Alexis LEBRUN began his defence of the European Men’s Singles title in impressive fashion, defeating Portugal’s experienced Tiago APOLONIA 4-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-0, 13-11).

The Frenchman, who claimed the title in Linz two years ago, dominated the opening three games, including a remarkable 11-0 third game. APOLONIA offered greater resistance in the fourth, but LEBRUN held his nerve to close out the contest without dropping a game.

His younger brother Félix LEBRUN also made a successful start, recording a 4-0 victory and expressing satisfaction at being able to conserve energy for the challenges ahead.

“It was a quick match to start the competition, which is good because I managed to save some energy. I think the third game was the key. I started very well with my serves and caused him some problems. He began to play better as the match progressed, but winning that third game probably affected his confidence a little. After that, I was able to take the fourth game and secure a 4-0 victory. It’s a great start to the competition,” said Félix.

The French star admitted that he was still managing some minor physical problems.

“I still have a few minor physical issues that are taking longer than expected to go away, which is quite frustrating. But I’m trying to manage them as well as possible, spending time with my physiotherapist and fitness coach so that I can gradually improve my physical condition and get stronger as the competition progresses.”

Sweden’s Truls MOREGARD also progressed without dropping a game, defeating the Netherlands’ Ivan KAHN 4-0 (13-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7).

Looking ahead to his Round of 32 encounter with Germany’s Andre BERTELSMEIER, MOREGARD expects another demanding contest.

“We had a close battle in the US Smash this summer, so I’m expecting a tough game where I’ll need to avoid his strengths. He’s really good in rallies, so I’ll be focusing on directing the game away from them as much as possible,” explained MOREGARD.

His compatriot Anton KÄLLBERG survived a much tougher test against Nikita ARTEMENKO. Having taken a 2-0 lead, the Swede was forced into a deciding game before securing a 4-3 victory (11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 12-14, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8).

“A very close game. I really had to give it my all and he played very well, so I’m very happy that I managed to find a high level in the decider and clinch the victory,” said KÄLLBERG.

Kristian KARLSSON completed another Swedish success, beating Germany’s Kay STUMPER 4-1. After already competing in Mixed Doubles earlier in the day, KARLSSON admitted that maintaining his energy and concentration had been a concern.

“I was a bit worried earlier today about how focused and pumped I would manage to be after the mixed doubles this morning. But I’m happy with what I delivered and feel really confident going forward,” said KARLSSON.

Elias RANEFUR added to Sweden’s successful opening day, recovering from losing the first game to defeat Croatia’s Andrej GACINA 4-1. He was particularly pleased with his performance in the service and receive phases.

“He is a very good player, so today I’m very happy with how well I played in service and receiving, which makes all the difference in a match like this,” said RANEFUR.

KOZUL shines as FRANZISKA and QIU advance

Slovenia’s Deni KOZUL delighted the home supporters with an impressive 4-0 victory over England’s Liam PITCHFORD, setting up a Round of 32 encounter with Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA.

“I’ve known Liam for a long time. He’s a top-class player, so I expected a really tough match, and that’s exactly what it was. But if someone had asked me whether I expected to win 4-0, I certainly wouldn’t have said yes,” admitted KOZUL.

“I’m really happy that I didn’t let the 3-0 lead slip away. In matches like these, when you’re three games up, you need to finish the job in the fourth to avoid making things complicated.”

The Slovenian was particularly satisfied with the quality of his performance.

“The level of play was very good, the quality of my shots was high, and tactically I played a good match. I’m really pleased.”

FRANZISKA advanced with a 4-0 victory over Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU (12-10, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5).

“I’m very happy with my 4-0 win over IONESCU. He’s an excellent player and has always been a difficult opponent for me. Playing Deni KOZUL in front of his home crowd won’t be easy, but I’m taking a lot of confidence into that match,” said FRANZISKA.

Germany’s Dang QIU was equally convincing against Serbia’s Dimitrije LEVAJAC, winning 4-0 (11-5, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7).

“That was a solid start. I’m glad I won the second game and avoided letting him level the match at 1-1,” said QIU.

The German will next face Denmark’s Jonathan GROTH, who overcame Wim VERDONSCHOT 4-1 (11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9).

GROTH’s victory was built on an aggressive approach, particularly his ability to take the initiative early in rallies and control the first three balls. The Dane also acknowledged VERDONSCHOT’s improvement and the challenges presented by the playing conditions in Ljubljana.

Germany’s Benedikt DUDA, the Men’s Singles silver medallist at the 2024 European Championships, made an equally convincing start, defeating Austria’s Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK 4-0 (13-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8).

“I’m very happy with my first match. The opening game was important. After that, I had my opponent under control and tried not to let him get into his game,” said DUDA.

“I hope I can have another European Championships as successful as the one two years ago. Things are certainly going very well in the Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles so far.”

Andre BERTELSMEIER also reflected on the importance of maintaining concentration during his opening encounter.

“It was a good performance, and I can learn a lot from this match. I allowed myself to get quite distracted by a discussion between my opponent and the umpire, which really disrupted my rhythm. But overall, I played a good match.”

NAUMI and DE NODREST continue impressive campaigns

Finland’s Alex NAUMI produced one of the most convincing performances of the afternoon, defeating Belgium’s Cédric NUYTINCK 4-0 (11-7, 11-3, 14-12, 11-3).

Competing in the European Championships main draw for the first time, NAUMI demonstrated the progress he has made since losing to the same opponent last year.

The Finnish player highlighted the importance of his service receive, forehand play and effective use of his anti-spin rubber. His tactical variety proved particularly effective against the experienced Belgian, who struggled to find solutions.

France’s Leo DE NODREST also continued his successful campaign, overcoming Belgium’s Adrien RASSENFOSSE 4-1 (11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 17-15).

Facing a former teammate, DE NODREST relied on aggressive play and careful tactical preparation, particularly in service and receive. The Frenchman held his nerve in a fiercely contested fifth game, eventually converting his opportunity to close out the match 17-15.

The victory carried particular significance for DE NODREST, who is representing the French senior team at the European Championships for the first time.

France’s Flavien COTON was also tested before defeating England’s Connor GREEN 4-2 (7-11, 12-10, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8).

FREITAS and MUTTI overcome opening challenges

Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS recovered from losing the opening game to defeat Hungary’s Csaba ANDRAS 4-1 (6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-2, 13-11).

FREITAS identified the second game as the turning point against an opponent who had beaten him in their previous Bundesliga meeting.

“I knew he was playing very well because I lost to him the last time we met in the Bundesliga. I expected a very difficult match, especially in the opening round. He had already played in the group stage and was familiar with the conditions in the hall, so I knew I needed to win at least one of the first two games,” explained FREITAS.

“After the second game, I found some new tactical solutions. I started feeling better and more confident, particularly with my service receive. Once we got into the open rallies, I knew I could compete well. In the end, I think I played slightly better than him.”

The experienced Portuguese player was also encouraged by his physical condition after several challenging seasons.

“The last few years have been difficult because of injuries. It was hard to practise properly, and even diagnosing some of the problems was a challenge. But right now I feel very good physically. I have no physical issues, and I’m ready to fight and give my best in every match.”

Italy’s Matteo MUTTI celebrated what he described as his best European Championships result after defeating Belgium’s Martin ALLEGRO 4-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10).

“I think the first two games were the most important because they were both very close, and winning them gave me a big psychological advantage. After that, I gained confidence while my opponent lost some of his. My receive with short pips was also very important in this match,” said MUTTI.

The Italian revealed that the result was particularly satisfying after a difficult period.

“Last month, I was very disappointed with my performance at the Mediterranean Games. I was really upset, but I kept working, especially on my mental approach. It has paid off because I’ve played very well in my last two tournaments. I’m very happy with that.”

JARVIS continues his progress

England’s Tom JARVIS also celebrated an important victory after overcoming an opponent against whom he had struggled in previous meetings.

“I knew it would be a difficult match. I’ve lost to him several times before and hadn’t won our last couple of meetings, so I knew it would be really tough. We prepared a lot tactically, and today I managed to win all the close moments. On another day, those points could easily have gone his way, so I’m really happy,” said JARVIS.

The Englishman believes his breakthrough at the World Championships has played an important role in his development.

“Reaching the Round of 16 at the World Championships was a huge moment for me. I wasn’t originally qualified, but some players withdrew through injury, which gave me the opportunity to compete. I reached the last 16 and lost a close match against LIANG Jingkun. Since then, my career has really taken a turn, and things have been getting better and better.”

Seven-game battles add to the drama

Finland’s Benedek OLAH survived a dramatic seven-game encounter against Vladimir SIDORENKO of Russia, eventually prevailing 4-3 (11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10).

Moldova’s Vladislav URSU was also taken the full distance by Croatia’s Filip ZELJKO. URSU appeared to be cruising towards victory after taking the opening three games, but ZELJKO mounted an extraordinary comeback to force a decider. The Moldovan eventually regained control to win 4-3 (11-6, 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 10-12, 6-11, 11-6).

Romania’s Eduard IONESCU defeated Hungary’s Adam SZUDI 4-2, while Evgeny TIKHONOV of Russia eliminated Spain’s Álvaro ROBLES 4-1.

Croatia’s Ivor BAN was particularly impressive against Slovakia’s Lubomir PISTEJ, winning 4-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5).

Slovakia’s Yang WANG overcame France’s Thibault PORET 4-1, Norway’s Borgar HAUG defeated Czechia’s Lubomir JANCARIK 4-0, and Portugal’s João GERALDO beat Türkiye’s Görkem ÖÇAL in straight games.

Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR also highlighted the importance of overcoming a difficult start to his opening match.

“The first match is never easy. I needed some time to find my rhythm and get my game going. I didn’t start the opening game particularly well and was trailing 7-10. If I had lost that game, the match might have developed very differently. Fortunately, I managed to turn it around, which gave me extra confidence, and I went on to win the next two games,” explained PUCAR.

“My opponent is a good, consistent player, so I had to be careful but aggressive at the same time. I’m happy with the victory and hope to continue playing well in the next round.”

Greece’s Panagiotis GIONIS was also recorded as advancing past Denmark’s Anders LIND.

The post JORGIC survives dramatic seven-game battle as leading contenders advance in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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[Milica Nikolic]

The opening day of the Women’s Singles main draw at the European Championships in Ljubljana delivered drama, major upsets and remarkable comebacks. Shuohan MEN of the Netherlands produced one of the biggest results of the day, defeating Spain’s Maria XIAO in a seven-game thriller, while Türkiye’s Ece HARAC recovered from 1-3 down to eliminate Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA.

MEN prevailed 4-3 (14-12, 9-11, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 15-13) in a contest that went right to the wire. After taking the opening game, the Dutch player lost three consecutive games and found herself facing elimination. However, she fought back to level the match before holding her nerve in a dramatic deciding game, which she eventually won 15-13.

HARAC produced an equally impressive comeback against the vastly experienced SAMARA, winning 4-3 (9-11, 11-7, 13-15, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7). The Turkish player admitted that the emotional challenge was particularly difficult because of her close relationship with her opponent.

“We know each other very well because she’s my teammate in the league, and she’s also like a big sister to me. At 3-1 down, I just told myself to enjoy the match and fight for every point. That’s exactly what I did, and I managed to win,” said HARAC.

The turning point came when she found a better answer to SAMARA’s service.

“I was struggling a little with her serves at the beginning, but as the match progressed, I adapted better and better. Once I started receiving more effectively, I gained confidence, and I think that helped me a lot.”

Slovenian celebrations as TOFANT and TOKIC advance

The home crowd at Arena Stožice had plenty to celebrate as Ana TOFANT and Sara TOKIC both progressed to the Round of 32.

TOFANT produced one of the finest victories of her career, defeating Portugal’s experienced Fu YU 4-1 (11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8).

“Definitely one of the biggest wins of my career. The only one that comes close was when I beat Bernadette SZOCS in the Italian league back in March. Even then, I could hardly believe what was happening. I don’t think I’ll be falling asleep anytime soon tonight. It’ll probably take me a day or two, maybe even a week, to fully realise what I’ve done and who I’ve beaten today,” said TOFANT.

Despite her impressive performance, the Slovenian admitted that doubts briefly appeared.

“I only started having some doubts towards the end of the third game and at the start of the fourth because I felt I could have been 3-0 up. The Portuguese player played smartly, but I knew I was feeling the ball well, so I had to make the most of that and take my chances.”

TOFANT explained that her determination to play without hesitation ultimately paid off.

“Before the match, I’d promised myself I wouldn’t hesitate. I went for it at the end of the second game, but it didn’t pay off. I was a bit frustrated because I could perhaps have played it a little safer. Then, in the fourth game, I fell behind but managed to catch her and move ahead. I realised I was still in front, which gave me a real boost. From there, I just focused on one point at a time and kept going until the end.”

TOKIC also gave the Slovenian supporters reason to cheer with a 4-1 victory over Türkiye’s Sibel ALTINKAYA (14-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5).

“I was a little nervous at the start. There was some pressure playing in front of the home crowd, even though they were cheering me on, which was really nice. I think I was mentally stronger today. I took it point by point and never gave up, even when we were 1-1 in games and I was 5-2 down. I managed to turn it around and take a 7-5 lead. I stayed really strong mentally and felt I handled the match well,” said TOKIC.

POLCANOVA and WINTER make confident starts

Defending champion Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria began her title defence with a 4-0 victory over Italy’s Nicole ARLIA (12-10, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8), despite arriving in Ljubljana after suffering from illness.

“I think I played quite well today. I had the flu a couple of days ago, and at first I was a little disappointed because I wasn’t feeling very well. But once the match started, the adrenaline helped, and I felt okay. I’m just trying to do my best,” explained POLCANOVA.

The Austrian highlighted the importance of the opening two games, particularly the second, in which she recovered from 8-10 down.

“She’s a very fast player, so I had to disrupt her rhythm a little. I think the first two games were really important, especially the second one, when I was 8-10 down. Most of the time, I felt I was really in the zone and able to concentrate well. I think that was also the key.”

Top seed Sabine WINTER of Germany was equally convincing, defeating Veronika KOTSIUR 4-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8).

“I didn’t know my opponent before, but I managed to find a video of her to help me prepare. I really enjoyed today’s match. I moved well, and there were lots of good rallies. Now I’m focusing on tomorrow, starting with the doubles match alongside Ying, which takes place before my singles match,” said WINTER.

Her German teammate Ying HAN also advanced without dropping a game, overcoming Poland’s Katarzyna WEGRZYN 4-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6).

“I had to work hard for my win, even though it was 4-0. We know each other very well from the Polish league and have played against each other many times. She had nothing to lose, and it was a good match. I think I’m gradually finding my rhythm in the Singles competition. Today’s match definitely helped me with that,” said HAN.

SZOCS recovers as YUAN and DE NUTTE progress

Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS recovered from losing the opening game against Spain’s Sofia ZHANG to secure a 4-1 victory (7-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8).

“It was a very difficult match against Sofia ZHANG. I prepared very well because I knew how dangerous she could be, and I had to work on several tactics against her. I’m very proud of myself because, even after losing the first game, I stayed positive and didn’t get angry at all. When I returned to the table, I told myself it was 0-0 and that the match was starting again,” said SZOCS.

The Romanian explained that a tactical adjustment helped her take control.

“I had to stay closer to the table because I had moved a little too far back, and she was smashing very well. My coach told me to stay close to the table even when she was smashing, because I was playing well and had nothing to lose. I listened to him, and in the next two games I felt very confident.”

SZOCS had already enjoyed success in Mixed Doubles and was delighted with the medal secured alongside her partner.

“It’s amazing, especially in Mixed Doubles. I’m so proud of us. We did it! It was our dream to win a medal because this is the first time we are playing together at the European Championships. We complement each other very well, and we have already played some amazing tournaments together. I knew we had a big chance to win a medal, even though we had a very difficult draw.”

France’s Jia Nan YUAN made an impressive start with a 4-0 victory over Croatia’s Dora COSIC (11-3, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6).

“I had never played against her before, so today I watched some videos to prepare. I knew she was powerful on both sides and could be dangerous. For me, the important thing was to play my normal game, stay focused on every point and get through the first round,” said YUAN.

Luxembourg’s Sarah DE NUTTE also advanced in straight games, defeating Serbia’s Reka BEZEG 4-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-7, 12-10).

“I think the key was my focus. I was really concentrated from the beginning until the end, and tactically I played well. I had never played against her before, so I watched some videos yesterday to prepare. I think I managed the crucial moments well, especially in the last game. I was a little behind, but at 9-9 I played some good points, so I’m very happy with this victory.”

DE NUTTE revealed that her preparation had been affected by a physical problem.

“Last week I had some shoulder pain, so I couldn’t practise as much as I wanted. However, I played quite well in both Doubles and Mixed Doubles, and now I’m also satisfied with my level in Singles.”

GROFOVA survives thriller as ABRAAMIAN battles through

Czech player Karin GROFOVA produced another dramatic victory, defeating Serbia’s Izabela LUPULESKU 4-3 (10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7).

After leading 3-1, GROFOVA saw her advantage disappear before finding the strength to prevail in the deciding game.

“I don’t even know if I can believe it. I felt good during the match and just took it one point at a time. I was leading 3-1, but then I made more mistakes in the next two games. I hope my husband will forgive me again for coming home a day later than planned. I’m sending a big kiss to him and my son. Above all, I just want to enjoy the second round. I’ll be facing Poland’s BAJOR, who is truly a world-class player,” said GROFOVA.

Elizabet ABRAAMIAN also came through a seven-game contest, overcoming Italy’s Giorgia PICCOLIN 4-3 (11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8).

“It was definitely a match with a lot of ups and downs. It might sound simple, but the key was my concentration. I often have this problem where I play really well for two or three games, and then suddenly I stop. I start thinking too much and feel that I have to change something, even though everything is already working. Sometimes I’m my own worst enemy, and that’s something I’m working on,” said ABRAAMIAN.

She also found humour in her fluctuating performance.

“In one game, I played amazingly well, almost like Sun Yingxia! It might sound like a big comparison, but I really enjoyed the way I played. Then, in the next game, I played very badly, missed easy balls and started getting angry. I need to work on maintaining my focus and staying calm. Maybe I just want to win so much that it affects me.”

Birthday joy for DIACONU

Romania’s Adina DIACONU celebrated her birthday in memorable fashion, defeating Sweden’s Christina KALLBERG 4-3 (11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-7).

“I know Stina very well. She’s a very good player and has been playing really well recently. We both played in the French League and have faced each other many times. Sometimes I win, sometimes she wins. But today I’m especially happy because it’s my birthday, so I wanted to give myself a present, and it worked out very well!”

DIACONU admitted that KALLBERG’s tactical changes made the contest difficult after she had taken a 2-0 lead.

“She changed a few things, and I needed some time to adapt. That’s also why I enjoy playing against her. We always have good matches, and I really enjoy the challenge.”

The Romanian, who progressed through the group stage, was pleased to continue her Singles campaign despite disappointment in Doubles.

“I’m very disappointed that we lost in Doubles today, but I’ll keep focusing on Singles. I really like Slovenia. I’ve always played well here, including at WTT tournaments.”

Poland’s Natalia BAJOR defeated Belgium’s J. H. VAN 4-0, while Monaco’s Xiaoxin YANG overcame Poland’s Anna BRZYSKA 4-1.

Germany’s Annett KAUFMANN beat Mariia TAILAKOVA 4-1, and Nina MITTELHAM defeated Slovakia’s Ema LABOSOVA 4-0.

Ukraine’s Margaryta PESOTSKA recorded a 4-0 victory over Romania’s Ioana SINGEORZAN, while Portugal’s Jieni SHAO defeated Norway’s Martine TOFTAKER by the same margin.

France’s Nina GUO ZHENG overcame Croatia’s Ivana MALOBABIC 4-1, while Slovakia’s Tatiana KUKULKOVA defeated Germany’s Franziska SCHREINER 4-2.

Romania’s Andreea DRAGOMAN advanced with a 4-0 victory over Austria’s Nina SKERBINZ, while Switzerland’s Rachel MORET defeated Lithuania’s Kornelija RILISKYTE 4-2.

Croatia’s Lea RAKOVAC beat Ukraine’s Anastasiia DYMYTRENKO 4-2 to progress to the next round. Alexia NODIN recovered from 1-3 down to defeat Sabina SURJAN 4-3, winning the deciding game 11-3.

Elena ZAHARIA also produced a remarkable comeback from 1-3 down against Tin-Tin HO, taking the final three games 12-10, 11-9, 11-6.

Xia Lian NI advanced with a 4-2 victory over Charlotte LUTZ, while Veronika MATIUNINA defeated Maria BERZOSA in four close games, including a 14-12 finish.

The post MEN stuns XIAO as HARAC fights back to beat SAMARA in Ljubljana first appeared on European table tennis union.

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