Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS eliminated Olympic champion CHEN Meng at WTT Champions Macao to reach the quarterfinal of the event. She needed full five games to overcame World No.2 (8-11 11-9 11-8 7-11 13-11).
Winner of the Europe Top 16 in 2018 and two times team’s European champion in 2017 and 2019 as well as European doubles champion this year in Munich confirmed her status as one of the biggest European stars.
“It’s unbelievable I don’t have any words for this. I am just so happy and proud to win against Olympic champion. Hard work pays off. This match gave me much more confidence in my game and in myself. One of my dreams come true to beat one Olympic champion! My other dreams are Olympic medal and to be in top ten or maybe even five in the World. A miracle happened in my life ” said Bernadette SZOCS. “I was relaxed; I had nothing to lose. I just felt I have the control over her game.”
After such important victory Bernadette is hungry for more.
“If I could beat an Olympic champion I have confidence and I believe I can beat anyone! I am in my best shape ever and I proved it with this win. However now when I proved it to myself I will not stop I can achieve much more in the future ” stated Bernadette.
In the quarters Bernadette will meet Japan’s Mima ITO World No. 6. Their head-to-head stands at 1:1. The Romanian won their first encounter way back at the 2012 World Junior Championships in India. SZOCS remains in contention to qualify for WTT Cup Finals Xinxiang 2022. At least a semifinal berth will be required to qualify but even then will depend on the outcome of other matches.
In upper part of the draw French representative Yuan Jia NAN will meet Kasumi ISHIKAWA of Japan in their match for semifinal.
In men’s quarterfinal Darko JORGIC of Slovenia beat Germany’s Patric FRANZISKA on his way to the quarterfinal. Tomorrow will meet FAN Zhendong of China. French Teen Alexis LEBRUN eliminated World No.3 LIANG Jingkun in a five game thriller and in Round of 8 will meet LIN Yun Ju of Taipei. We will also see the all-Sweden quarters – Truls MOREGARD vs. Mattias FALCK.
