The opening matches in Women’s Singles Group phase in the Under 21 European Championships in Sarajevo proved no one is safe – favorites faced serious challenges from the early hours.
Top seeded player in the qualification stages Ioana SINGEORZAN of Romania was forced to go full distance against Anastasiya STERNER of Austria before she won her opening match in Group 1. Next match against Karlijn VAN LIEROP of Netherlands she won in straight games.
No. one in Group 2 Helga DARI of Hungary went full distance in both matches. She was challenged by Sara TOKIC of Slovenia and Mari BALDWIN of England.
In Group 3 Isa COK of France had less troubled path. She easily overcame Malamatenia PAPADIMITRIU of Greece and Ainhoa CRISTOBAL of Spain.
Whist the favorites in top two groups were challenged but prevailed Ece HARAC of Turkiye failed to find the answer to pressure. In Group 4 she lost to Naomi PRANJKOVIC of Germany and Emine ERNST of Netherlands. Both players accounted for Dzana BIOGRADLIC from BiH and concluded first two rounds unbeaten.
Valentina RONCALLO of Italy prevailed against Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland to upset the rankings. She also beat Helena SOMMEROVA of Czechia to move to the leading position in Group 11.
Romania’s Bianca MEI ROSU beat Julie VAN HAUWAERT of Belgium and Leah TVEIT MUSKANTOR of Sweden. Anne AVEZOU of France justified her status with two wins over Matilda HANSSON of Sweden and Jana VASENDOVA of Czechia. Anastasiaya DYMYTRENKO of Ukraine was stretched to full distance against Martine TOFTAKER of Norway and Natalia BOGDANOWICZ of Poland.
The list of unbeaten players in opening rounds gores with Anna BRZYSKA of Poland Sophia KLEE of Germany Luciana MITROFAN of Romania and Anna HURSEY of Wales.
