All four spots in the semi-finals of the Under 19 Girls Singles event at the European Youth Championships in Malmö are occupied by players from different nations. In the penultimate stage Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine will face Mariana SANTA COMBA of Portugal while Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland will compete against Bianca MEI ROSU of Romania. No. 9 seed Veronika MATIUNINA the reigning Under 21 European champion justified her status by beating Germany’s No. 50 seed Lorena MORSCH in straight games (10 10 11 7). No. 2 seed Zuzanna WIELGOS halted Slovenia’s No. 16 seed Sara TOKIC’S great run with a victory (8 -5 6 10 3). In a quarterfinal clash Mariana SANTA COMBA booked her place among the top 4 needing all seven games to defeat Italy’s No. 38 seed Miriam CARNOVALE (9 -2 -8 5 4 -10 5). “I was not expecting this result. During the match I tried to stay focused and always keep on working so I could win this match. In the next round I will try to do my best and play without pressure ” said Mariana. No. 3 seed Bianca MEI ROSU also needed seven games to overcome France’s Leana HOCHART (3 -6 7 10 -10 -17 8). “I was so nervous after losing 3-1 to 3-3. My adversary played really well and had a super hard forehand. My tactic was to serve short to her forehand because she has a very good receive in her backhand. Last year I finished as number 3 and I hope I can do even better this time ” said MEI ROSU. In previous rounds with the departure of No. 1 seed Mia GRIESEL of Germany in the early stages of the event Lilou MASSART of Belgium and Agathe AVEZOU of France the upper half of the draw “opened” for Veronika MATIUNINA. Ukraine’s player seeded No. 9 also did not leave anything to chance and cleared her way effectively in the Round of 16 overcoming No. 4 seed Anna BRZYSKA of Poland in straight games (9 4 6 6). The same round saw Germany’s Lorena MORSCH seeded No. 50 beating Austria’s Anastasia STERNER 4-3 (11 7 -4 -6 -6 8 13). In the Round of 32 Karolina HOLDA of Poland halted the progress of No. 7 seed Lilou MASSART of Belgium (6 4 -11 8 4). In the same round Maria BERZOSA of Spain also lost her encounter against Romania’s Evelyn UNGVARI who won in six games (8 -7 9 5 -7 4).

The penultimate stage of the Under 15 Boys Singles event at the European Youth Championships in Malmö will feature an all-Polish duel between top seed Patryk ZYWORONEK and Aleks PAKULA. In the other semi-final match Sandro CAVAILLE of France will play against Romania’s Robert ISTRATE. PAKULA seeded ninth beat third seed Danilo FASO from Italy (9 -10 -5 7 6 7). “I hoped before the tournament that I would get a medal but FASO is a very difficult opponent to beat. I am a little bit shocked but very happy about this win ” admitted PAKULA. ZYWORONEK halted the progress of England’s Abraham SELLADO who is ranked 24th winning in four games (9 2 6 -11 11). In the lower half of the draw there were no upsets. Fourth seed CAVAILLE overcame sixth seed Francesco TREVISAN of Italy (-8 7 7 4 -3 -11 8). Sandro was on the verge of defeat after a safe 3-1 lead. TREVISAN leveled but failed to finish the job. “I was very nervous when I started losing in the fifth game. In the last game I found the right way to play and I’m very happy to play in the semifinal tomorrow. In the semifinal I have to try to be calmer and not get angry when it goes against me. Today I got both a yellow and red card and I can’t afford that in my next match ” said CAVAILLE. Second seed ISTRATE prevailed against fifth seed Samuel MICHNA of Poland (4 6 -10 4 6). Abraham SELLADO had a nice run today. After overcoming Matt CLOSSET of Belgium in the round of 32 (-9 7 -9 11 4 4) he reached the quarters with a win over Dario SALCEDO of Spain (7 -9 8 10 11). In the Round of 32 Türkiye’s Kenan KAHRAMAN seeded 19th overcame seventh seed Jan SKALDA of Czechia in six games (-9 5 5 8 -7 9).

In the semifinal of the Under 15 Girls Singles event tomorrow at the European Youth Championships in Malmö top-seeded Hanka KODETOVA of Czechia will face Koharu ITAGAKI of Germany while host nation Sweden will be represented by Siri BENJEGARD who will play against Mariia LYTVYN of Austria. Siri BENJEGARD ranked only 42nd in the seedings performed superbly to reach the penultimate stage. In her match against 4th seed Lisa-Sophie WANG of Germany Siri maintained her patience to overcome the defending skills of the favorite (-11 -7 9 -6 12 10 3). In the fifth and sixth games she faced eight match balls and saved them all. After securing the sixth game Siri made ten points in a row and stormed through the seventh game. “I never gave up and I saw that my adversary was getting nervous when I took some match points from her. It had been a while since I played a real defensive player and I think I did very well. I have a lot of self-confidence now and I’m really looking forward to the semifinal ” said Siri BENJEGARD. Seeded 47th Alexia NODIN of France reached the quarters and was even 3-1 ahead but LYTVYN found her way through and beat the rock-solid defense of the French player (-4 10 -11 -10 6 8 11). “I am really really happy right now. Before I never thought that I would win this game. I have never won against NODIN before so now I am happier than ever ” said Mariia LYTVYN. In the quarterfinal 3rd seed ITAGAKI easily prevailed against Eva LAM of France (8 4 4 3). “I knew I had to play well to win and so I did. I didn’t make any easy mistakes and my tactic was to have a big variation in my serves. I’m very happy to reach the semifinal which was my goal before the Championship ” said ITAGAKI. KODETOVA performed another remarkable recovery against Julia LEAL of Portugal. After being 0-2 down she won the next four games with ease (-4 -8 7 5 4 4). “I was down 0-2 so I am really happy that I won. Leal played really well and we always have close matches against each other. In the next match I will face Itagaki and it is the same thing there ” said KODETOVA. Previously Under 13 European champions had a blast in the Round of 16. Reigning Under 13 champion from Bucharest Siri BENJEGARD overcame 7th seed Nina SKERBINZ of Austria (-4 7 9 5 4). Last year’s Under 13 European Champion from Zagreb Alexia NODIN of France prevailed against 10th seed Sophie BARCSAI of Hungary after seven long games. The French player with her defensive style succeeded after being down three games to none (-10 -4 -7 6 10 9 6). Also in the Round of 16 2nd seed Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA of Poland faced an early exit. Mariia LYTVYN prevailed in a long-distance match 4-3 (-7 6 -6 9 -8 6 4).

A family from Iceland consisting of four brothers and one sister is making waves at the European Youth Championships in Malmö. All siblings have competed and won matches for the Icelandic national team at the EYC. Gudbjörk Vala (born 2010) the youngest made her debut in the cadet girls’ event in Sweden. “I was a bit nervous but thought it was fun to play. It was a good experience ” said Gudbjörk Vala GUNNARSDOTTIR. Her older brother Eirikur Logi five years her senior competed in the junior boys’ event for the second time. “It was a very tough tournament but also much fun. I really enjoyed playing here ” said Eirikur Logi GUNNARSSON. The eldest Pètur (born 1995) played his first EYC 15 years ago and is now an assistant coach for the Icelandic team. “It has been super fun to coach the team with my brother and sister in it. I was the one who started playing table tennis and the others followed me. I was the leading star ” joked Pètur GUNNARSSON. The other two brothers Skúli and Gestur are in Malmö to support the Icelandic team. Four brothers and one sister from the same family all competing and winning matches in the EYC might be a record in EYC history. By Anton SANDHOLT

Aleks PAKULA and Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA of Poland swiftly secured their spot in the final defeating Romania’s Robert Alexandru ISTRATE and Andreea BAIASU in straight matches. “It feels good. Somehow it was an easy match and I don’t think they came up to their best level. We hope to play well in the final. Before this event started our goal was to win the gold medal. If we win we would be very happy ” said PAKULA. In the other semifinal Jan SKALDA and Hanka KODETOVA of Czechia overcame Nolan JOHNSTON and Lisa ZHAO in a thrilling five-game match. Despite losing two games narrowly the Czech pair rallied to secure the win. KODETOVA commented “In Czechia we have played tournaments together but never in the national team. The final against Poland will be really tough but if we have good tactics I think we can win.” Mixed doubles Under 15 semi final Nolan JOHNSTON Lisa ZHAO (France) – Jan SKALDA Hanka KODETOVA Czechia 2-3 (7-11 11-9 11-9 5-11 5-11) Robert Alexandru ISTRATE Andreea BAIASU (Romania) – Aleks PAKULA Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA (Poland) 0-3 (5-11 1-11 4-11) Polish pair Aleks PAKULA and Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA clinched gold in the Under 15 Mixed Doubles event at the European Youth Championships in Malmö marking Poland’s 21st title in the 66 editions of the EYC. In the final they overcame their compatriots Marcel BLASZCZYK and Zuzanna WIELGOS. Bronze medals were awarded to Nolan JOHNSTON and Lisa ZHAO of France and Robert Alexandru ISTRATE and Andreea BAIASU of Romania. PAKULA commented “It feels very good. Before the tournament I hoped we would get the gold so we are very happy right now. We cannot celebrate too much today because we have more important matches tomorrow.” Under 15 – Final Jan SKALDA Hanka KODETOVA (Czechia) – Aleks PAKULA Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA (Poland) 1-3 (9-11 10-12 11-4 6-11)

Daniel BERZOSA and Veronika MATIUNINA needed only three games to book their place in the final. Celian BESNIER and Clea de STOPPELEIRE of France seeded just one position below the Spanish-Ukrainian duo at No. 8 couldn’t halt their progress. “We played a good match and followed our tactics perfectly. We were relaxed and played without pressure ” said BERZOSA. “I started playing with Veronika this season and it’s fun to play with her.” Top seeds Marcel BLASZCZYK and Zuzanna WIELGOS faced a spirited challenge from Flavien COTON and Leana HOCHART of France. The French pair won the opening game and pushed the Polish players to the limit in the next two games but the favorites prevailed. “We are in the final for the first time. Last year we came third so we are very happy ” said WIELGOS. Mixed doubles Under 19 semi final Celian BESNIER Clea DE STOPPELEIRE (France) – Daniel BERZOSA (Spain) Veronika MATIUNINA (Ukraine) 0-3 (8-11 5-11 7-11) Marcel BLASZCZYK Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) – Flavien COTON Leana HOCHART (France) (6-11 15-13 12-10 11-7) Daniel BERZOSA of Spain and Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine are the newly crowned champions in the Under 19 Mixed Doubles event at the European Youth Championships in Malmö. This victory marks the eighth gold for Spain and the 11th for Ukraine. In the final they overcame the Polish pairings Marcel BLASZCZYK and Zuzanna WIELGOS. Bronze medals were awarded to two French pairs: Celian BESNIER and Clea DE STOPPELEIRE as well as Flavien COTON and Leana HOCHART. In the final BERZOSA and MATIUNINA dominated with speed and precision leaving their adversaries without many options. MATIUNINA remarked “It feels unbelievable. In the first match we almost lost; we came back from 0:2 and the deciding set was 11-9 so it was a very difficult match. And after that we also had some troubles. In the last two matches we won 3:0 3:0 so we were really good today.” BERZOSA added “I don’t know what to say really European Champions… I think the most difficult match mentally was in the quarterfinals because we fought for the gold against ISTRATE and ARLIA. After that we played without pressure. Unbelievable.” Under 19 – Final Daniel BERZOSA (Spain) Veronika MATIUNINA (Ukraine) – Marcel BLASZCZYK Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) 3-0 (11-6 11-7 11-3)

Top seeds in the Under 19 Boys Singles Event at the European Youth Championships in Malmö have safely advanced to the round of 32. Iulian CHIRITA of Romania his teammates Darius MOVILEANU and Andrei ISTRATE and Germany’s Andre BERTELSMEIER all secured third-round victories. However No. 6 seed Dragos BUJOR of Romania faced an early exit. The home crowd was delighted by the play of William BERGENBLOCK who booked his place in the next round. Chirita defeated Czech’s Petr HODINA of Austria (13 -8 7 9 7). MOVILEANU needed one game less to secure victory over Hakan ISIK of Türkiye (8 5 5 7). ISTRATE also concluded his match against Jakub GOLDIR of Slovakia in four games (1 8 4 8). No. 4 seed BERTELSMEIER prevailed against Khai Noah LAM of Norway after losing the opening game (9 -8 8 9 7). Romania’s lineup was reduced as Dragos BUJOR lost to Sweden’s William BERGENBLOCK 4-2 (7 -9 8 3 -6 3). This was good news for the hosts since the second round already saw the departure of the best-seeded Swedish player Isak ALFREDSSON who lost to Benjamin PIGGOTT of England 4-2 (-10 8 8 -4 9 10). In the same round Itay AVIVI of Israel dealt another blow to the home supporters by beating Elias SJOGREN 4-1 (-10 10 7 12 4). William BERGENBLOCK expressed his satisfaction with his performance:”I think I played really well. I kept my tactics the whole match and could come to an attack as I wished. I’m really pleased with the win.” In the third round David SZANTOSI of Hungary beat David BJORKRYD but not before the Swede put the No. 7 seed under severe pressure in a seven-game battle (1 8 -4 -9 16 -6 9). Alessi MASSART of Belgium overcame Germany’s Lleyton ULLMANN in a narrow seven games (8 6 -9 8 -6 -9 12).