At the penultimate day of the play at the 2022 Dunav Osiguranje European Youth Championships we know all the medal winners. Tomorrow the places at the podium will be decided.
In the Under 19 Girl’s Singles Event top seeded Elena ZAHARIA of Romania overcame Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia to book her place at the medal rostrum (8 -9 -8 8 9).
“I am so proud with this win because it was so difficult to beat Hana. I lost against her in straight games in the Team’s Event and I was so nervous today. We know each each other so long many years…The turning point was at 2:2 but all the games were intense and long ” said ZAHARIA.
Romania’s player will meet Charlotte LUTZ in the semis. French representative beat Naomi PRANJKOVIC of Germany.
Wiktoria WROBEL of Poland overcame Tsvetlana GEORGIEVA of Bulgaria (-8 11 9 1 7). Her coach explained that the victory came as a surprise to all. Wiktoria will meet Annett KAUFMANN of Germany in the penultimate stage.
“It was much harder than the 4:0 result predicts. Each time when it was 10:10 and it happened in two games I was more determined in the finishing stages. I was calm but I played more aggressive ” said KAUFMANN.
In the Round of 16 Tsvetlana GEORGIEVA of Bulgaria added another victory on her record. After Ines MATOS of Portugal she overcame Sara DEVOS of Belgium in superb style (3 11 9 3).
From quarterfinal Romania remained without representatives in the Under 15 Girl’s singles event. Top seeded Bianca MEI ROSU suffered by the hands of Belgium’s Lilou MASSART 4:2 (-7 14 9 9 -6 8). In addition Veronika POLAKOVA of Czech Republic made another blow to Romania by beating Alesia SFERLEA (-5 -8 6 -11 4 9 7). In the Round of 16 Portugal’s SANTA COMBA suffered by the hands of Sidelya MUTLU of Bulgaria in straight games (9 6 10 12).
Josephina NEUMANN of Germany was the first to book her place in the semi final thanks to the straight games victory over Kendra MOLNAR of Hungary (8 9 5 2).
“I was very excited even before the game and I was very happy that I reached the quarterfinals. I was not afraid; just decided I will give my best. It worked just fine and here I am – in the semi final ” said NEUMANN.
Germany’s player will meet Lilou MASSART who add another win to her record. She beat Nina GUO ZHENG in the quarters.
“I was quite nervous but I managed somehow to calm dow I did not expect to reach this far but now I am so happy that I have an opportunity to ply in the semi final “said MASSART.
In the lower half of the draw in the quarters Natalia BOGDANOWICZ of Poland overcame Sidelya MUTLU of Bulgaria. She will play against Veronika POLAKOVA of Czech Republic. In dramatic fashion after being 0:3 down POLAKOVA recovered to beat Eireen KALAITZIDOU of Germany.
“It is so difficult to explained what happened. I was 0:3 down and then I won 4:3. I did not change anything. I played in the same pace all match ” said POLAKOVA.
In Under 19 Doubles Mia GRIESEL and Lea LACHENMAYER of Germany were in charge for top rated upset. They overcame Elena ZAHARIA of Romania and Annett KAUFMANN of Germany and it was one of the rare occasions when KAUFMANN was completely outplayed. Germany’s duo will meet another unexpected pairings in the semis – Anna HURSEY of Wales and Sophie EARLEY of Ireland. They accounted for Anna BRZYSKA and Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland. Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia and Linda ZADEROVA of Czech Republic will play against Wiktoria WROBEL and Ilona SZTWIERTNIA of Poland in other semis.
In Under 15 Doubles Event in the semis Romania’s Bianca MEI ROSU and Poland’s Natalia BOGDANOWICZ will play against Jade Quynh-Tien HUYNH and Elise PUJOL of France.
The other finalists will be known after the clash between Germany’s Koharu ITAGAKI and Josephina NEUMANN vs. Busra DEMIR and Aybuke SIMSEK of Turkiye.
