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
SF SKK El Nino Praha edge TTC Sokah Hoboken in thrilling Europe Cup quarterfinal
After securing an emphatic 3-0 away victory in the first encounter, last year’s runners up, SF SKK El Nino Praha reached the semi-final of the Europe Cup Men with a hard-fought 3-2 success against TTC Sokah Hoboken. Despite already holding a strong aggregate advantage, the Czech side faced determined resistance from the visitors in a tense five-match duel. Tomas KONECNY opened the tie with a narrow five-game win over Olav KOSOLOSKY, but Hoboken immediately responded as Quentin ROBINOT defeated David REITSPIES to level the score. Praha regained control thanks to a dominant straight-games performance from Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA against Cedric FLEBUS. ROBINOT once again kept Hoboken in contention by overcoming Martin SIP, forcing a decisive final match. Under pressure, David REITSPIES produced a composed display to beat Olav KOSOLOSKY in straight games and seal another victory for El Nino Praha. Tomáš KONECNY: “Reaching the European Cup semifinals for the second consecutive time is a huge success in the history of our club. But we are not satisfied yet – we want to go even further. The rematch with the Belgian club was difficult. My match against Olav KOSOLOSKY was not easy; he is an uncomfortable opponent, a left-hander with a very strong serve. At one stage I struggled a bit, but in the end everything worked out and I managed to secure the important opening point. After that, it was in the hands of my teammates, and fortunately it all turned out well.” SF SKK El Nino Praha – TTC Sokah Hoboken 3-2 TTC Sokah Hoboken – SF SKK El Nino Praha 0-3
Cajasur Priego advance to Europe Cup semifinals after golden match drama
Real Club Cajasur Priego TM booked their place in the Europe Cup Men semifinals after a dramatic quarterfinal decided by a golden match against HB Ostrov z.s. The Spanish side carried a 3-1 advantage from the opening leg at home, but the return encounter in Czechia saw Ostrov fight back strongly to level the tie and force a golden match decider. HB Ostrov opened the second leg with a convincing win as Vladislav URSU defeated Diogo CARVALHO in straight games. Robert GARDOS responded for the visitors, edging Jiri VRABLIK in a tense five-game duel to keep Cajasur in contention. The hosts regained control through Pavel SIRUCEK, who overcame Carlos MACHADO 3-0, before URSU struck again, narrowly beating GARDOS to secure a 3-1 victory in the leg and push the quarterfinal into a golden match. With everything at stake, Cajasur showed composure in the decider. Robert GARDOS gave the Spanish club the lead with a single-game win over SIRUCEK, and Diogo CARVALHO sealed qualification by edging URSU in a dramatic extended game. We are very happy to reach the semifinal. It was a very tough and difficult match against a very strong team. In Priego we made an important step, but here we still had work to do. We were playing in unfamiliar conditions, different from what we are used to at home, so we really had to fight. It was not our best performance, but we kept pushing and gave everything. In the end I believe we deserved to qualify. When we were 2-1 down, I was leading 2-0 and 8-4 against URSU, later also 9-6 and 9-7. In the deciding game it was 5-5, so it could have gone either way. Still, I think we created more chances to close out the match than our opponents. The key was that we never gave up. We kept fighting until the end, and that determination allowed us to win and secure our place in the semifinal,”explained GARDOS. Second leg HB Ostrov z.s. – Real Club Cajasur Priego TM 3-1 Golden match HB Ostrov z.s. – Real Club Cajasur Priego TM 0-2 Opening leg Real Club Cajasur Priego TM – HB Ostrov z.s. 3-1
Seven-time champions Düsseldorf march into HYLO ETTU Champions League Final 4
Seven-time Champions League winners Borussia Düsseldorf confirmed their place in the HYLO ETTU Champions League Final 4 after securing the two points they needed in the second leg of the quarterfinal against Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. Having already built a commanding 3-0 advantage in the opening leg, today’s 2-0 success sealed an emphatic overall triumph. The No. 2 seeds, who have also lifted the European Club Cup of Champions six times, once again demonstrated their depth and experience. European champion from Munich 2022 Dang QIU (No. 7 in Europe), Anton KALLBERG (No. 9 in Europe) and Kanak JHA (No. 31 in the world) formed a powerful lineup against the No. 10 seeded Mühlhausen, led by Ovidiu IONESCU (No. 31 in Europe). Düsseldorf opened the return leg in confident style as Anton KALLBERG controlled his duel with Nico MULLER in straight games. With qualification within reach, the spotlight then turned to Kanak JHA, who secured the decisive point after a demanding contest against IONESCU. “My match against Ovi was tough. He is a very aggressive player and in the first game I struggled to adapt to his rhythm. As the match went on I improved step by step. To finish the tie with such clear results – 3-0 in the first leg and 2-0 here – makes this a fantastic quarterfinal for us. Now we are excited and looking forward to a tough semifinal challenge against Montpellier. Borussia head coach Danny HEISTER admitted that despite the final scoreline, the tie demanded full focus. “In the end it looked like an easy game, but before the match we knew it wouldn’t necessarily be so simple. With the format meaning the tie could already be decided in the fourth match, there was little margin for mistakes. When Müller is in the lineup you normally expect to win, but it can still be tricky. After the first set, however, I felt Kanak had the situation under control. I’m really happy that we qualified for the final. We had already done a fantastic job in the first leg, winning 3-0 in Mulhouse, so today we came in as heavy favorites. Even so, we stayed focused and did our job, which makes us very satisfied.” With two clear victories across the tie, Düsseldorf advance to the Final 4 carrying strong momentum and confidence as they prepare for a high-level semifinal clash. Borussia Düsseldorf (GER) – Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. (GER) 2-0 Opening leg Post SV Mühlhausen 1951 e.V. (GER) – Borussia Düsseldorf (GER) 0–3
Metz TT take first-leg advantage in all-French Champions League quarterfinal
Metz TT secured a valuable 3-1 home victory over Saint-Denis TT 93 in the opening leg of the Champions League Women quarterfinal, taking the early advantage in the all-French duel. Saint-Denis struck first as Jie LI defeated Hana GODA in four games to silence the home crowd. Metz responded immediately through Charlotte LUTZ, who overcame Hana ARAPOVIC to level the tie. Mariia TAILAKOVA then put the hosts in front after a tense five-game battle against Prithika PAVADE. GODA sealed the overall victory in the fourth match, avenging her earlier defeat with a straight-games win over ARAPOVIC to give Metz a crucial cushion ahead of the return leg. “Very happy about the win. We managed mentally and, in our game, to turn the match around after losing the first one. We had a good spirit during the match and I think it helped a lot. We will try to keep the same energy for Sunday,” said Charlotte LUTZ. Opening leg results: Metz TT (FRA) – Saint-Denis TT 93 (FRA) 3-1
Bogoria become first team to book HYLO ETTU Champions League Final 4 place after all-Polish quarterfinal battle
Last season both Polish clubs competed in the final tournament, but this year their paths crossed already in the quarterfinals, with only one ticket from this match available for the HYLO ETTU Champions League Final 4 in Saarbrucken this May. That place ultimately went to KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki, who became the first team to secure qualification, leaving KS Bank Spółdzielczy Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów without the place among the top four. Bogoria progressed despite a narrow 2-3 defeat in the return leg, having built their advantage with a 3-1 win in the opening encounter. The decisive first-leg victory proved enough to carry them through a tightly contested all-Polish duel. In the second leg, KS Bank Spółdzielczy Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów opened strongly as Satoshi AIDA edged Marek BADOWSKI in five games, before Deni KOZUL doubled the lead by defeating Takuya JIN. Bogoria responded through Panagiotis GIONIS, who overcame Mateusz ZALEWSKI to keep the tie alive. BADOWSKI then leveled the match by beating KOZUL in another five-game thriller, forcing a decisive final singles. AIDA sealed the 3-2 team victory for Orlicz Suchedniów with a dominant performance against JIN, but it was Bogoria who celebrated overall qualification. “We knew it would be a very tough match and I think everyone was prepared for that. Suchedniów never gives up easily and it quickly became clear how close the encounter would be. After the first game, when Marek came very close, the pressure increased and the match became even more demanding. At 2-0 we understood that a win in my match could bring us back into the contest. ZALEWSKI played very well this time and I have to admit I was a bit lucky. In my opinion I did not play at my best level, but I managed to get through the match. We also knew that Marek against KOZUL is always a 50-50 duel. In the end Marek showed greater confidence and secured the point. We worked very hard to reach the semifinal and we are extremely happy about it. Considering that we were missing our best player, Milos REDZIMSKI, we knew it would not be easy, which makes this success even more satisfying,” said Panagiotis GIONIS. Return leg: KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – KS Bank Spółdzielczy Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów (POL) 2-3 KS Bank Spółdzielczy Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów (POL) – KS Orlen Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 1–3
Reigning champions ttc berlin eastside take first-leg victory in Rzeszow
Reigning champions ttc berlin eastside secured an important 3-1 away victory over PGE Fibrain KU AZS Politechnika Rzeszow in the opening leg of the Champions League Women quarterfinal. The German side now holds the upper hand ahead of the return match scheduled for Saturday. The hosts made a strong start as Europ’s no 51 Zuzanna WIELGOS edged Europe’s no 16 Xiaona SHAN in a five-game battle to give Rzeszow an early lead. Berlin responded immediately, with Yuka KANEYOSHI defeating Fen LI to level the tie. Nina MITTELHAM ranked 10th in the Europe then put the visitors in front with a straight-games win over Ilona SZTWIERTNIA. KANEYOSHI sealed the overall victory in the fourth match, overcoming WIELGOS in three games to hand the reigning champions a valuable cushion before the second leg. PGE Fibrain KU AZS Politechnika Rzeszow – ttc berlin eastside 1-3
Ganxets Costa Durada take upper hand in Europe Cup quarterfinal opener
MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada earned a valuable 3-0 away victory over STK Dr. Časl in the opening leg of the Europe Cup Women quarterfinal, placing the Spanish side in a strong position ahead of the return match scheduled for Saturday. The visitors struck first as Olga VOROBEVA defeated Jiaqi LIU in four games to give Ganxets the early lead. A thrilling second encounter followed, with Ruichen GUO edging veteran Xia Lian NI in a tense five-game duel to double the advantage. Andrea TODOROVIC then sealed the team victory by overcoming Szandra PERGEL, completing a convincing performance from the Spanish club. “We are very proud of our performance. All three of us played at a top level. Olga delivered a calm and focused performance against Jiaqi LIU. Ruichen GUO managed to beat Xia Lian NI, which was a very difficult task. She needed some time to find her rhythm and adapt to NI’s style, which is never easy, but she found the solution. That victory was crucial in this match. Despite our 2-0 lead, I knew I had to win against Szandra PERGEL because we could not afford to face NI and LIU again. Szandra had a very strong serve and I struggled with the receive, especially in the second game. She tried with longer service and I made mistakes. However, I found the solution in my service and return game and, most importantly, I started to play with more patience,” said Andrea TODOROVIC. Opening leg results: STK Dr. Časl – MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada 0-3
Convincing SF SKK El Nino Praha win sets tone for return leg
SF SKK El Nino Praha secured a strong advantage in the opening leg of the Europe Cup quarterfinal, defeating TTC Sokah Hoboken 3-0 away from home. With the return leg scheduled for tomorrow, the Czech side moves into a favorable position in the race for a semifinal place. Praha set the tone early as Tomas KONECNY overcame Quentin ROBINOT in straight games. The second match proved to be the closest contest of the evening, with David REITSPIES edging Olav KOSOLOSKY in a five-game battle to extend the visitors’ lead. Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA then sealed the overall victory with a dominant performance against Cedric FLEBUS. El Nino Praha Coach Petr KAUCKÝ said : “Tomáš KONEČNÝ certainly made a very important step in the opening singles by defeating Quentin ROBINOT. Then David REITŠPIES, who doesn’t usually like playing against left-handers, overcame Olav KOSOLOSKY, which probably decided the match. The spectators also enjoyed the shortened fifth game. We won 3-0, but of course nothing is decided yet. We will have to stay fully focused in the second leg, because now we are the big favorites to advance.” Opening leg results: TTC Sokah Hoboken – SF SKK El Nino Praha 0-3
Hungary to Host the 1st Open European Games of TT Hopes in June 2026
The inaugural Open European Games of TT Hopes will take place from 18 to 21 June 2026 in Hungary, bringing together Europe’s most promising young table tennis players in the Veszprém–Balaton region. The event will be staged across Veszprém, Balatonfüred and Várpalota, areas recognized as the European Sports Region 2026. Organized by the European Sport Region 2026 Project and supported by the Hungarian Government and local municipalities, the competition will feature U13 and U15 boys’ and girls’ singles and team events, as well as youth para competitions, with athletes competing for prizes and ETTU ranking points. Matches will be played at the Veszprém Aréna, Balatonfüred Sport Park and Várpalota Sport Hall, with a total of 70 tables available. The tournament will follow ITTF rules, with singles events played in group and knockout stages and team events in the Davis Cup system. Beyond the sporting program, participants will have access to a range of cultural and recreational activities around Lake Balaton, one of Central Europe’s most popular destinations. Entries are open to national associations, regional delegations and clubs, with the closing date for registration set for 20 May 2026. E-mail address: tt.hopes2026@sportregion.hu.
