In the final quarterfinal of the ETTU Champions League Women, KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg confirmed their place in the Final 4 with victories in both legs against Etival ASRTT. The Polish side, seeded No. 1, will now host the Final 4 in Tarnobrzeg. Tarnobrzeg controlled the tie from the outset. Zhuojia HE recovered from a tight opening game to take the lead, before Ying HAN delivered a composed four-game victory in a high-quality contest against Christina KALLBERG. Xiaoxin YANG sealed the win in dominant fashion to complete a 3-0 success on the night. Last year’s semi-finalists and four-time champions, Tarnobrzeg now prepare to welcome Europe’s elite in May. In the semi-finals, reigning champions ttc berlin eastside will face hosts KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg, while UCAM Cartagena T.M. meet Metz TT. Ying HAN, currently No. 4 in Europe, said: “Once again we fought really well as a team. We are looking forward to the Final 4 and we hope to receive great support here on home soil.” KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg – Etival ASRTT 3-0 Etival ASRTT – KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg 1-3
Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier join HYLO Champions League Men Final 4 line-up
The line-up for the HYLO ETTU Champions League Men Final 4 is now complete. After two victories in the quarterfinal against KS Dekorglass Działdowo, Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier secured their place in May’s decisive stage in Saarbrücken. Just like in the opening leg in France, which they won 3-1, Alliance repeated the same result away to seal qualification with authority. The Polish side opened strongly as Jakub DYJAS defeated Gregoire JEAN to give the hosts an early advantage. However, last week’s CCB Europe Top 16 Cup winner Alexis LEBRUN, currently No. 2 in Europe and reigning European champion in singles, doubles and team, responded with a commanding straight-games win over Patryk LEWANDOWSKI. Antoine HACHARD then edged a tense five-game encounter against Samuel KULCZYCKI to swing momentum firmly in favour of the French club. Alexis LEBRUN closed the tie in style, overcoming DYJAS in straight games to secure the decisive third point and complete a 3-1 victory on the night. “We had a bit of stress before the match because Felix LEBRUN felt some pain after the Europe Top 16 Cup. Together with the team, we decided it was better for him to stay on the bench and rest. We knew from the start that it would be difficult without him. However, everyone showed great courage and we managed to prevail in a very tense duel. The key moment was the match between Antoine HACHARD and Samuel KULCZYCKI. His five-game victory gave us the edge. I am proud of the entire team and of this opportunity to play in the Final 4 for the first time in the club’s history. We are looking forward to competing in Saarbrücken and trying to win the title,” said coach Vincent AVRIL. Seeded No. 13 and required to progress through the first stage, Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier have produced an impressive campaign to reach the Final 4. In May, in Saarbrücken, they will face reigning champions 1. FC Saarbrücken TT, while last year’s runners-up Borussia Düsseldorf will meet 2025 semi-finalists KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki in the other semi-final. KS Dekorglass Działdowo – Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier 1-3 Alliance Nîmes/Montpellier (FRA) – KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo (POL) 3–1
Europe Cup Men semi-final line-up confirmed: Lille to face Priego, Roskilde meet El Nino Praha
The Europe Cup Men semi-final line-up is now confirmed: Lille Metropole TT will face Real Club Cajasur Priego, while Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 will meet SF SKK El Nino Praha in the battle for a place in the final. Despite a 2-3 defeat in the second leg, Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 secured their place in the Europe Cup Men semi-finals thanks to a convincing 3-0 victory in Denmark earlier this week. The Danish side did enough over the two legs to progress, eliminating AS Pontoise Cergy TT after a tightly contested return match in France. Pontoise opened strongly through Flavio MOURIER, but Roskilde quickly responded with solid performances from Jens LUNDQVIST and Tobias RASMUSSEN to take control of the tie overall. Although the French side claimed the final two matches to win the return leg 3-2, Roskilde’s earlier 3-0 home success proved decisive. AS Pontoise Cergy TT – Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 3-2 Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 – AS Pontoise Cergy TT 3-0 Lille Metropole TT seal semi-final berth with away victory Lille Metropole TT confirmed their place in the Europe Cup Men semi-finals after recording victories in both legs of the quarterfinal tie against STK Vyhne. In the return match, Lille secured a 3-1 away win to complete the job in convincing fashion. The hosts opened strongly as Adam KLAJBER defeated Tom CLOSSET in straight games, giving STK Vyhne early momentum. However, Romain BRARD quickly restored balance with a solid four-game victory over Filip SZYMANSKI. Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA then edged a dramatic five-game battle against Boguslaw KOSZYK, recovering from two games down to put Lille in front. BRARD sealed the tie in dominant style, overcoming KLAJBER in straight games to secure the decisive third point and confirm Lille Metropole TT’s passage to the semi-finals. STK Vyhne – Lille Metropole TT 1-3 Lille Metropole TT – STK Vyhne 3–0
Metz TT advance to ETTU Champions League Women Final 4
Metz TT secured their place in the Final 4 of the ETTU Champions League Women after completing the job in an all-French quarterfinal duel against Saint-Denis TT 93. In the semi final Metz will play against Spanish UCAM Cartagena T.M. Following their 3-1 victory in the opening leg, Metz needed just two points in the return match to confirm qualification – and they delivered with a 2-1 win on the road. Saint-Denis opened strongly as Prithika PAVADE edged Mariia TAILAKOVA in a five-game battle, keeping hopes alive for the hosts. However, Hana GODA quickly shifted the momentum with a straight-games victory over Jie LI, bringing Metz level and within one step of qualification. The decisive point came through Charlotte LUTZ, who overcame Hana ARAPOVIC in another tense five-game encounter. After twice surrendering the lead, LUTZ responded with composure in the final game to seal the crucial second point and send Metz TT into the Final 4. “I am very proud and happy about this victory. We managed to qualify for the Final 4 in a convincing way. As I said after the first leg, we focused on maintaining the same energy and intensity throughout the entire match, and it paid off. I am truly proud of my team, and we are already looking forward to competing in the Final 4,” said LUTZ. Saint-Denis TT 93 – Metz TT 1-2 Metz TT (FRA) – Saint-Denis TT 93 (FRA) 3-1
UCAM Cartagena turn the tables to reach the ETTU Champions League Final 4
UCAM Cartagena T.M produced a dramatic comeback to secure their place in the Final 4 of the ETTU Champions League Women, overturning a 0-3 first-leg deficit against Saint-Quentin TT and clinching qualification in a tense golden match on home soil. After suffering a heavy defeat in France, the Spanish side responded with determination in front of their supporters, winning the second leg 3-1 to force the decider. Maria XIAO set the tone with a confident straight-games win over Linda BERGSTROM. Although Polina MIKHAILOVA responded by edging Tin Tin HO in a five-game battle, Fei QI restored parity in the overall tie with a strong performance against Camille LUTZ. The decisive fourth match of the leg saw Maria XIAO once again rise to the occasion. In a tense encounter against MIKHAILOVA, she held her nerve in the deciding game to level the aggregate score and force a golden match. With everything on the line, Cartagena showed remarkable composure. Fei QI saved crucial points in a dramatic 15-13 golden game victory over MIKHAILOVA, swinging the momentum firmly in favor of the hosts. Maria XIAO then sealed qualification with an assured 11-6 win against BERGSTROM. “It was an amazing comeback. We knew we had to produce something special to win today, and fortunately we managed to do exactly that. I’m extremely happy and truly proud of my team,” said XIAO. From a 0-3 defeat in France to a golden match triumph in Spain, UCAM Cartagena T.M completed a stunning turnaround and now advance to the Final 4, keeping their Champions League dream alive. UCAM Cartagena T.M – Saint-Quentin TT 3-1 Golden Match UCAM Cartagena T.M – Saint-Quentin TT 2-0 Saint-Quentin TT – UCAM Cartagena T.M. 3–0
Reigning champions ttc berlin eastside power into Final 4
Reigning champions ttc berlin eastside booked their place in the ETTU Champions League Final 4 Women after defeating Poland’s PGE Fibrain KU AZS Politechnika Rzeszow 3-0 in the second leg. The German powerhouse, six-time title holders, once again demonstrated their pedigree on the European stage. Having already secured victory in the opening leg, Berlin left no room for doubt on home soil. The team from the German capital set the tone immediately. Yuka KANEYOSHI delivered a dominant performance in the opening match, overpowering Ilona SZTWIERTNIA with aggressive play and sharp control from the first ball. The second encounter brought more resistance, as LI Fen claimed the opening game against Nina MITTELHAM. However, the German international responded with authority, winning three consecutive games to put Berlin firmly in control of the tie. “I’m just very happy that we won and managed to take the 2-0 lead early, which was crucial for us. I was also glad that Sabina had the opportunity to play and she performed really well. I’m especially proud of her for the way she finished the last set, winning it 11-0 and fighting until the very last point,” said Nina MITTELHAM. Sabina SURJAN then closed the contest in style. After allowing Zuzanna WIELGOS to pull one game back, SURJAN raised her level once more and finished emphatically, sealing qualification with a flawless 11-0 in the fourth game. “After the 3-1 result in the opening leg, it was important for us to win two matches today. Yuka and Nina did their job perfectly, securing the two points we needed. I then played the third match and I’m very satisfied with my performance. We’re happy and we move forward,” said Sabina SURJAN. With victories in both legs, TTC Berlin Eastside advance confidently to the Final 4, once again underlining their status among Europe’s elite in the Champions League Women. ttc berlin eastside – PGE Fibrain Ku AZS Politechnika Rzeszow 3-0 PGE Fibrain KU AZS Politechnika Rzeszow – ttc berlin eastside 1-3
Europe Cup Women semi-final line-up complete
The semi-final picture in the Europe Cup Women is now confirmed. MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada, Linz AG Froschberg, and ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari have secured their places among the final four after decisive performances across the quarterfinal ties. They all joined SKST Plus Hodonín, after Czech club booked their place yesterday. With qualification sealed, the competition now moves into its decisive stage, where four ambitious sides remain in the race for the Europe Cup Women title in April. Linz AG Froschberg reach semi-finals with two-leg success Linz AG Froschberg secured their place in the semi-finals of the Europe Cup Women after recording victories in both legs against Son Cladera TTC – Mallorca. The Austrian side laid the foundation in the opening leg in Spain, where they claimed a 3-1 win. Back on home soil, they confirmed qualification with a 3-0 success, completing the tie without conceding an overall setback. Despite the clear aggregate outcome, the return match was far from straightforward. All three encounters went the distance, with Linz prevailing in each decisive game to underline their composure and experience in crucial moments. “This is one step closer. We are among the top teams now, but our goal is to reach the final. We are getting stronger and stronger, and today’s 3-0 victory gives us even more confidence,” said Britt EERLAND. Linz AG Froschberg – Son Cladera TTC – Mallorca 3-0 Opening leg Son Cladera TTC Mallorca – Linz AG Froschberg 1–3 ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari secure Europe Cup Women semi-final place After winning the opening leg 3-0, ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari needed just two points in the return match to confirm their place in the Europe Cup Women semi-finals – and they achieved exactly that with a 2-1 home success over Fenerbahce Sports Club. Fenerbahce struck first as Ece HARAC overcame Hengyu MA in four games, keeping the Turkish side’s hopes alive. However, Tania PLAIAN delivered a crucial response in a dramatic five-game battle against Sibel ALTINKAYA. The second game, claimed 18-16, proved pivotal in shifting momentum towards the Italian side. With qualification within reach, Miriam CARNOVALE stepped up confidently. After dropping the second game, she regained control and closed out the match in four games to secure the decisive second point. With victories in both legs, ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari progress to the Europe Cup Women semi-finals, continuing their impressive run in the competition. “We are very happy with this victory. We had a difficult campaign in the Champions League and unfortunately we were relegated, but now we are taking things match by match. I hope we can go all the way and win the Cup again, like we did in 2023. For this tie, we were without our number one, Elizabet ABRAAMIAN, and we knew it would be tough without her. Hengyu MA struggled against Ece HARAC’s style of play and it was an emotional match. As for my match, I am especially happy because I am not in my best shape. I have been dealing with hip problems and I am still not fully recovered. I had to fight for every point, but I managed to play at a very good level. Sibel ALTINKAYA is a very strong and experienced player, so this win means a lot to me. In Miriam’s match, everything went according to plan. She followed the tactics perfectly and played very well. I am also very happy for her, as we are close friends. We are now looking forward to the next match and we will give our best,” said Tania PLAIAN. SD Quattro Mori Cagliari – Fenerbahce Sports Club 2-1 Fenerbahce Sports Club – ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari 0–3 MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada beat STK Dr. Časl MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada confirmed their place in the Europe Cup Women semifinals after edging Croatia’s STK Dr. Časl 3-2 in the second leg. Following their straight matches victory away from home two days earlier, the Spanish side needed just two points to secure progression, and they delivered. The tie opened with Guo RUICHEN putting the hosts in front, overcoming Jiaqi LIU in four games with a confident display. However, experienced Xia Lian NI responded for the Croatian side, defeating Olga VOROBEVA in a tight encounter, highlighted by a dramatic 15-13 finish in the fourth game. Andrea TODOROVIC restored the advantage for the Spanish team with a straight-games victory over Szandra PERGEL, bringing MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada within touching distance of qualification. Although NI Xia Lian struck again, beating Guo RUICHEN to level the score at 2-2 on the day, the overall qualification was already secured thanks to the earlier points. The final match provided extra drama, as Olga VOROBEVA battled Jiaqi LIU in a five-game thriller to seal the 3-2 victory in front of the home crowd. “The second leg was a bit more tense because Dr. Časl changed their lineup. They decided to put Ni Xia Lian against Olga VOROBEVA. Olga had her chances and could even have won the match, but Ni justified her status. At 1-1, I managed to beat Szandra PERGEL, which was the second point we needed to secure our place in the semifinal. However, we continued playing and the fourth match was very close. Two days ago, Ruichen GUO defeated Ni 3-2, winning 6-4 in the deciding game, so this time Ni took her revenge. One of the difficulties was that we started celebrating a bit early because we already knew we had qualified for the next round, and it was not easy to maintain full focus. I would also like to praise Olga VOROBEVA for her effort in the decisive match. She defeated the Chinese player Jiaqi LIU in the fifth game of the fifth match by the death point,”explained Andrea TODOROVIC. With a 3-0 win in Zagreb and a 3-2 success at home, MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada advance confidently to the semifinals. MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada – STK Dr. Časl 3-2 Opening leg STK Dr. Časl – MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada 0-3
1. FC Saarbrücken TT survive Hennebont scare to punch HYLO ETTU Champions League Final 4 ticket
Top seeds 1. FC Saarbrücken TT secured their place in the HYLO ETTU Champions League Final 4, but only after a dramatic home encounter with GV Hennebont TT that proved far more demanding than expected. “It was a very tough match today and we really had to fight as a team. We showed that we are very difficult to beat, even on days when we are not playing at our very best. Now we are really looking forward to the Final Four at home. There will be a lot of spectators and it will be a big event for the table tennis world, and hopefully also something very special for Saarbrücken. We are extremely excited about it,” said MOREGARD. Three-time champions and winners of both previous Final 4 tournaments, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT arrived with a comfortable 3-0 cushion from the away leg in France. Yet the return match turned into a tense battle that went the full distance, highlighted by two major upsets from Hennebont’s Simon GAUZY and Rubio WEN. The French no. 11 in Europe, fresh from defeating Patrick FRANZISKA at the recent CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Round of 16, stunned the home crowd by beating Olympic champion Zhendong FAN in the fourth match. Earlier in the evening, FAN, the youngest world champion and reigning Olympic gold medalist, had already fallen to Rubio WEN in a five-game thriller, giving the visitors early momentum. Despite the setbacks, Saarbrücken’s depth ultimately proved decisive. Europe’s no. 1 Truls MOREGARD, Olympic and World Championships runner up, restored order with a strong win over GAUZY, while Darko JORGIC, runner up at last week’s CCB Europe Top 16 Cup and no. 4 in Europe, overcame Vladimir SIDORENKO to keep the German side on track. MOREGARD then sealed the tie by defeating Lev KATSMAN in four games. “I’m very happy that we qualified for the semifinal. From the very beginning we knew it would be an extremely tough match. The opening encounter surprised us a bit, especially Rubio’s win over Fan Zhendong, but Truls gave us a great start and brought us back into the tie. I knew my match would be decisive, so I stayed fully focused from start to finish and I think I played very well. I had lost to SIDORENKO in Muscat, so I’m especially happy that I was able to take my revenge for that defeat. We were aware that a difficult task awaited us in front of a full arena, and I’m very proud of the whole team. We are really looking forward to the semifinal and we hope we can win the trophy again this year, just as we did when we captured the Champions League title,”: said JORGIC. Seeded seventh, Hennebont pushed the favorites to their limits and underlined their quality with fearless performances, especially from GAUZY. Nevertheless, Saarbrücken combined their away-leg advantage with key home victories to confirm their status as one of the main contenders for the title and advance to the HYLO ETTU Champions League Final 4. 1. FC Saarbrücken TT – GV Hennebont TT 3-2 GV Hennebont TT (FRA)-1. FC Saarbrücken TT (GER) 0-3
Top seeds KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg underline status with strong win at Etival
In the quarterfinal of the ETTU Europe Cup Women, top seeds KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg confirmed their favorites’ status with a composed 3-1 away victory over fourth-seeded Etival ASRTT. The Polish side, last year’s semifinalists and four-time champions, relied on their quality and experience to take firm control of the tie. Etival ASRTT, last season’s quarterfinalists, lined up with strong individual credentials, led by Jieni SHAO (no. 9 in Europe) and Christina KALLBERG (no. 22 in Europe). However, Tarnobrzeg answered with an equally impressive roster featuring Ying HAN (no. 4 in Europe) and Xiaoxin YANG (no. 40 in Europe) and HE Zhuojia. HAN Ying set the tone for the visitors by overturning the opening game deficit to defeat KALLBERG in four games. HE Zhuojia then delivered a dominant performance against SHAO to double Tarnobrzeg’s lead. The hosts stayed in contention thanks to Liu YANGZI, who edged a dramatic five-game duel against YANG Xiaoxin. Any hopes of a comeback were quickly halted as HE Zhuojia returned to the table to overcome KALLBERG in straight games and seal a valuable away success. “I’m happy with the win in the first match. My players were very focused and fought for every point. Now we look ahead to the return leg, where we are aiming for another victory and qualification for the Final Four, which will be held in Tarnobrzeg,” said coach Zbigniew NECEK. Etival ASRTT – KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg 1-3
SKST Plus Hodonín beat TTC Novi Sad in dramatic golden match thriller
In the quarterfinal of the ETTU Europe Cup Women, TTC Novi Sad and SKST Plus Hodonín delivered one of the most dramatic ties of the round, with both legs going the full distance before the Czech side sealed the victory in a decisive golden match. After two legs played at maximum intensity and a nerve-testing golden match, SKST Plus Hodonín emerged as semifinalists, ending TTC Novi Sad’s spirited European campaign. The opening leg in Hodonín went the way of the hosts, while Novi Sad responded in Serbia with a 3-2 victory to level the overall tie and force the shootout. Despite the Serbian club’s strong comeback, SKST Plus Hodonín held their nerve at the crucial moment to secure a place in the semifinals. TTC Novi Sad started strongly, with Aneta MAKSUTI opening the tie in commanding fashion against Marketa SEVCIKOVA. Valeria SHCHERBATYKH then survived a tense five-game duel with Karin GROFOVA to put the home side in a promising position. Hodonín answered through Zhang BINYUE and GROFOVA, who both claimed important wins to turn the score around. With elimination looming, SHCHERBATYKH produced a composed performance against SEVCIKOVA to clinch the match for Novi Sad and send the contest into a golden match. In the sudden-death decider, the Czech team struck quickly. Zhang BINYUE defeated SHCHERBATYKH in the opening duel, and GROFOVA followed by overcoming MAKSUTI to seal qualification for SKST Plus Hodonín. TTC Novi Sad – SKST Plus Hodonín 3-2 Golden match TTC Novi Sad – SKST Plus Hodonín 0-2 SKST Plus Hodonín – TTC Novi Sad 3-2
