Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS will arrive at the European Championships in Ljubljana with memories of Linz still very much alive. Two years after reaching the Women’s Singles final and also taking silver in Women’s Doubles, the 31-year-old is ready for another challenge – and another opportunity to pursue the Singles title she has been chasing throughout her career.
For SZOCS, the memories of Linz bring together pride and disappointment. Reaching her first European Championships Singles final represented an important breakthrough, but finishing runner-up in two events inevitably left her wanting more.
“Yes, it is a nice memory and it will stay with me forever. At the same time, it is a little bit painful because I lost two finals, and of course I would have liked to win at least one gold medal. But those two medals mean a lot to me. Until that moment, I had never reached the semi-finals or final in Singles at the European Championships,” said SZOCS.
“Losing the final was painful, but at the same time I was very proud of myself because I knew I gave everything at the table. When you give everything and you lose, it can happen. This is sport.”
Her record shows just how accustomed SZOCS has become to competing for medals on the biggest European stage. She is a three-time European champion, having won Team gold with Romania in 2017 and 2019 and the Women’s Doubles title in Munich in 2022. Her European Championships collection also includes five Team silver medals, Mixed Doubles silver and two Mixed Doubles bronze medals.
At the Europe Top 16, SZOCS was champion in 2018, runner-up in 2019 and 2026 and a bronze medallist in 2021, 2022 and 2024. She also enjoyed major success at the 2023 European Games, winning both the Women’s Singles and Team titles as well as Mixed Doubles bronze.
That wealth of experience could prove particularly valuable when the pressure rises in Ljubljana.
“I think my experience under pressure will help me a lot. At the World Championships I also played twice for a medal, and I know how to control my emotions and the pressure. Many times I have played for titles and many times I have been in semi-finals and finals. I am ready for these emotions again.”
SZOCS has been preparing for Ljubljana alongside a demanding international schedule. Her build-up began before the China Smash, with particular attention paid to details in her game that she felt needed improvement.
“My preparation started already before the China Smash. I practised very hard and tried to correct the small things that were not working as well as I wanted. My preparation is going quite well and I can say that I am ready for the European Championships.”
She expects another extremely demanding Women’s Singles event, with Europe’s leading players arriving in Ljubljana prepared for a major battle.
“The European Championships in Ljubljana will be very strong. There are many strong players and everybody is very well prepared. I am ready for a big fight. I will take it match by match, step by step. I want to enjoy every moment of the European Championships and try to give my best and bring medals home for Romania.”
For all the medals already in her collection, one ambition remains particularly powerful. After coming within one victory of the European Singles crown in Linz, SZOCS makes no secret of what winning the title would mean.
“If I can repeat the same result as two years ago, it would be amazing. It will not be easy, but nothing is impossible when you believe in yourself. Of course, I would love to bring the gold home because it is my dream. I think it is possible. Nothing is impossible in our sport.”
And for a player who has already won European, European Games and Europe Top 16 titles, becoming European champion in Singles would carry a special significance.
“To be European champion would be another dream come true. I just want to give my best, enjoy it and leave the European Championships proud of myself, knowing that I gave everything I could at the table.”
