In the final of the Women’s Event at the European Team Championships in Zadar, reigning champions Germany will face the winner of the clash between top seeds Romania and No. 18 seed Netherlands.
Germany’s unbeaten streak continues. The team, last defeated in 2019, has once again reached the final as they chase their 10th European title. In the semi-final, Portugal, bronze medallists at the previous two editions, could not stop the dominant German side. It marked Germany’s 11th consecutive 3–0 victory in the competition.
The new leader of the team, Sabine WINTER, was pushed to the limit by Fu YU in the opening match, eventually winning 3–2. Annett KAUFMANN and Nina MITTELHAM each secured 3–1 wins against Jieni SHAO and Matilde PINTO, respectively, to complete another commanding performance.
Sabine WINTER: “I had some trouble with Fu Yu’s serves today, but then I became much more variable in my game. I always tried to stay close and find solutions. Mentally, it was also a good performance from me to come back and win two clear games after being 1–2 down. Taking a 1–0 lead is always good for the team, but even if I had lost, I’m convinced we still would have won the match. For tomorrow, I just wish for a victory, I don’t really mind who we play. The two teams are very different, but both are very strong. We’ll give everything and fight for every point.”
Annett KAUFMANN, the only non-Asian Under-19 World Champion, who also reached the semi-finals with the German team during her Olympic debut in Paris, summed up the team’s mindset:
“It feels amazing to be undefeated. I didn’t even realise at first how long this streak has been, but it shows that no matter which lineup we play, whether it’s with Yuan WAN and Nina MITTELHAM, or with Sabine and me, we can all perform at the top level. We’ve proved many times that we’re all capable of playing world-class table tennis. It’s great to know that we’re not just relying on one player, we’re a complete, balanced team. That’s our biggest strength.”
KAUFMANN continued: “I think Sabine’s match was the most important today. She did really, really great after being 2–1 down, and that was a key moment for us. We didn’t underestimate Portugal, we knew they were strong. They showed yesterday against Ukraine that they can come back and win important matches. So we fought for every ball and we’re just very happy that we all managed to win our matches. I think the key was changing the rhythm and staying calm at the right moments.I was also a bit more satisfied with my own game today. You don’t face left-handers that often. I do train against them, but in a match it’s still something different, it’s a bit like playing against yourself. I was a little impatient today, and she plays in a slightly uncomfortable way for me. But with the right tactics, calmness, and rotation, I managed to win the match.”
Nina MITTELHAM: “It was an uncomfortable match. She played well and gave me awkward balls. I was a bit sluggish today, so I’m glad we’re not playing at 10 a.m. tomorrow. I had to win this match, and I did. These kinds of matches have never been easy for me, and in the past, I’ve lost quite a few of them. But by now, I know how to fight through.”
Tamara BOROS gave Coach’s View: “The 3–0 result sounds like an easy win, but it really wasn’t. There were tight situations in every match. Sabine’s win against Fu YU in the first match was very important, starting with a 0–1 deficit would have been tough for Annett, even though she’s mentally very strong. Nina wasn’t very stable today, but playing against Pinto is never easy. She plays without rhythm and hits very strange balls. Today it was enough. Tomorrow, we all want to take that final step.”
Semi-Final
Germany – Portugal 3–0
- Sabine WINTER – Fu YU 3–2 (8–11, 11–4, 8–11, 11–4, 11–2)
- Annett KAUFMANN – Jieni SHAO 3–1 (11–8, 11–9, 8–11, 11–4)
- Nina MITTELHAM – Matilde PINTO 3–1 (10–12, 11–6, 11–9, 11–8)
