Bianca MEI ROSU of Romania captured the Women’s Singles gold medal at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca, defeating Sara TOKIC of Slovenia 4-1 in a dramatic final. TOKIC secured silver, while Alexia NODIN of France and Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland shared the bronze medals.
Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, MEI ROSU produced a superb performance to add the Women’s Singles crown to the Women’s Doubles silver medal she had already won earlier today, finishing the championships with two medals.
The final was far closer than the scoreline suggests. After taking the opening two games 11-8, 11-8, MEI ROSU saw TOKIC respond by claiming the third game 11-5. The fourth game proved to be one of the decisive moments of the match. Trailing 8-10 and facing two game points, the Romanian reeled off five of six points to snatch the game 13-11.
That momentum carried into the fifth game as MEI ROSU stormed to an astonishing 7-0 lead. Yet TOKIC refused to surrender. The Slovenian fought back from 6-10, saving four match points and forcing extra points before MEI ROSU finally sealed the title 13-11.
The title represents the biggest success of MEI ROSU’s Under 21 career and her first Women’s Singles gold medal at the European Under 21 Championships after several previous appearances ended before the medal rounds.
“I don’t know how to describe it in words. Before this tournament I didn’t think that I would play the final and win it. It’s the best competition by far,” said MEI ROSU.
Reflecting on the final, she highlighted the importance of confidence and self-control.
“It was tough because it’s the last match and I had a lot of matches before. I knew she would be a tough opponent. We have met many times before and the matches were different every time. The most important thing was my confidence in my game.”
The Romanian also explained how she managed the pressure created by the enthusiastic crowd.
“I took a deep breath every time. I talked to myself during the game. The supporters were many and sometimes too loud, so speaking with myself was the best thing.”
Looking back on the week, MEI ROSU admitted that overcoming disappointment earlier in the tournament was one of her biggest challenges.
“It wasn’t easy. After I lost in mixed doubles I really wanted a medal. It was hard to come back from it and focus on the next matches.”
The champion pointed to her opening encounter as an important moment in her journey.
“I started this tournament with a really tough match with NEUMANN. I wanted to be ready from the beginning, from the first set and the first point all the way to the end.”
Winning the title exceeded even her own expectations.
“It means a lot. I don’t have words to describe it. I didn’t expect to win.”
TOKIC’s silver medal capped an outstanding championships for the Slovenian. In addition to reaching the Women’s Singles final, she also collected bronze medals in both Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles, concluding the event with three medals.
The achievement places TOKIC among a select group of players who have won three medals at a single European Under 21 Championships. Since the introduction of Mixed Doubles in 2020, only a handful of players have achieved the feat: Adina DIACONU (2020), Prithika PAVADE (2022), Mia GRIESEL and Samuel KUCZICKY (2023), Hana ARAPOVIC, Elena ZAHARIA and Maciej KUBIK (2024), Elena ZAHARIA again in 2025, and now Sara TOKIC in 2026.
Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT also joined that exclusive club in Cluj-Napoca, winning gold in Men’s Doubles, silver in Mixed Doubles and reaching the Men’s Singles final.
Sara TOKIC booked her place in the Women’s Singles final after edging past 15-year-old French defender Alexia NODIN in a dramatic seven-game semifinal.
The encounter proved to be one of the closest matches of the tournament, with TOKIC eventually prevailing 4-3 (11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 13-11, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10). NODIN, seeded No. 28 and one of the youngest players in the competition, pushed the No. 13 seed to the limit with her resilient defensive play and came within touching distance of a major upset.
TOKIC was forced to show remarkable patience against NODIN’s defensive style and faced her biggest challenge in the deciding game when she trailed 1-7. Refusing to panic, the Slovenian fought her way back to seal victory.
“The coach Jaka GOLAVSEK was calm all the time and supported me. His calm helped me stay calm. If he had been stressed, I would have been as well. I just tried to stay focused point by point,” said TOKIC.
Despite limited experience against defenders of NODIN’s level, TOKIC trusted her game plan throughout the contest.
“I was trying to push myself to be patient, not to smash the first ball. At 7-1 down in the final game, I told myself the match was not finished, just keep playing.”
Delighted with her achievement, TOKIC admitted reaching the final was a special moment.
“I am very happy and very proud. I never reached a medal before, and now it’s a final.”
Bianca MEI ROSU became the second finalist in the Women’s Singles event after overcoming sixth seed Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland in a hard-fought six-game semifinal.
Playing in front of the home crowd, the 12th seed showed impressive composure in a match filled with momentum swings. After sharing the opening four games, the Romanian produced a crucial comeback in the fifth game. Trailing 8-10, MEI ROSU won four consecutive points to edge ahead, before carrying that confidence into the sixth game to seal a 4-2 victory (11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7).
The turning point came in the fifth game when WIELGOS was just one point away from taking a commanding lead.
“I think the most important phase was in the fifth set when she was leading 10-8. I made a good tactic and managed to win it,” said MEI ROSU.
The Romanian admitted she expected a difficult challenge against one of the tournament favourites and relied heavily on her mental strength to stay focused.
“She is one of the toughest players in this competition. I knew from the beginning it was going to be a tough match because all our previous encounters were difficult. The most important thing was my touch and my mentality – remembering to breathe, take a pause and come back to the table.”
MEI ROSU also highlighted the importance of keeping her game simple against an adversary capable of attacking from both sides.
“She is playing very well on both forehand and backhand. I had to raise my level very high. I was more concentrated on doing the simple things well – service, receive and the first ball.”
Having started her campaign in the qualification stage, the Romanian admitted reaching the final exceeded her expectations.
“At the beginning I didn’t think I would be in the final. I took it step by step and prepared for every match. To make it all the way from the qualifiers to the final is something big.”
The achievement carries extra significance as she approaches the end of her youth career.
“It makes me feel special and proud of myself. This is my last year in Under 19 and I want to raise my level even higher and see what potential I have.”
Final
Bianca MEI ROSU (Romania) – Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) 4-1 (11-8, 11-8, 5-11, 13-11, 13-11)
Semifinals
- Alexia NODIN (France) – Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) 3-4 (5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-13, 12-10, 7-11, 10-12)
- Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) – Bianca MEI ROSU (Romania) 2-4 (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 7-11)
PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU
