Alexis LEBRUN of France successfully defended his title at the 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux, overcoming Darko JORGIC of Slovenia in the final. The semifinalists were Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and France’s Félix LEBRUN. Darko JORGIC – Alexis LEBRUN 1–3 (6–11, 6–11, 11–9, 6–11) Playing his third Europe Top 16 Cup, LEBRUN delivered a composed and high-quality performance to retain the crown. “I think I delivered an extraordinary performance, so I’m really happy. I feel great in this tournament. My whole family is here, my girlfriend is here supporting me as well, so honestly it’s just amazing to be here with all my loved ones and to perform, to play at this level. I’m really happy. In the third game there was a bit more tension. Darko played better then. Yes, there was a bit of fear of winning for sure. I held back a little more on my shots and he caused me some problems by varying his serve, but I managed to recover well in the next set, so I’m really pleased.” Asked about his plans after the victory, LEBRUN added: “We’re going to go to the lake with Sabine, then I’ll sign a few autographs, and after that we’ll enjoy ourselves. I think there’s a nice meal waiting for us at the hotel, so we’re going to make the most of it.” Reflecting on his semifinal performance, he said: “I think I played at a really top level. He was a bit below his best, it was one of his average days, and I managed to take advantage of that. I’m happy to win after a small series of defeats, it feels good.” On the evolution of his rivalry and head-to-head balance, LEBRUN explained: “Every match is different. We’re both still quite young and our games are evolving a lot, so for now every match is really different. I lost the last three times, so I don’t think I really have the upper hand. But today I had the solutions. Like I said, it was a slightly off day for him and a very good day for me. When it’s like that, I can take the advantage, but when we’re both having a good day, it’s always much closer.” Benedikt DUDA – Darko JORGIC 1-3 (7-11, 11-6, 7-11, 4-11) Three-time champion Darko JORGIC is competing in his seventh CCB Europe Top 16 Cup and has reached the final in five of his previous six appearances. For Benedikt DUDA, this marked only his second participation in the event, and the first time he managed to secure victories. In the semifinals, JORGIC defeated DUDA, who had remarked before the match that Darko plays in Montreux as if it were his “living room.” “I feel almost at home here and everyone was saying the same. However, I knew it was going to be extremely difficult. Still, from the very first point I felt I was in good form and exactly where I wanted to be,” said JORGIC. He added: “In January I lost 3–0 to Benedict in Doha. I had beaten him before, but I knew this would be a very demanding match because he has improved a lot. I had to work for every single point. In the second game I lost focus a bit and started playing his game, which didn’t suit me, but I quickly returned to my own rhythm.” Alexis LEBRUN – Felix LEBRUN 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-9) The clash between brothers Alexis and Felix LEBRUN ignited a fully packed Omnisports venue in Montreux. Spectators were treated to a fast, fierce and razor-sharp contest, packed with explosive rallies, lightning-quick exchanges and constant tactical adjustments. Every point was contested at high intensity, with both players pushing the pace and precision to the limit in a battle that rarely offered any breathing space. Technically, the two were evenly matched, showing outstanding touch and shot quality. The difference lay in the mental aspect: Alexis, backed by a stronger record at this level, appeared to handle the pressure more comfortably. After a commanding and composed performance, the victory went to the older brother, Alexis. Both LEBRUN brothers are making their third appearance at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. “We both warmed up separately, each on our own table, but still in a good atmosphere as usual. Playing against each other didn’t change our routines,” said Alexis after the match.

Crowned champion of the 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup is Sabine WINTER. Last year’s qualifier arrived this season as the top seed and fully justified her status. In the final hurdle, WINTER overcame Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS in commanding fashion, while Jia Nan YUAN of France and Germany’s Ying HAN were stopped in the semifinals. Sabine WINTER – Bernadette SZOCS 3–0 (11–4, 11–4, 11–4) Sabine WINTER delivered an almost error-free performance to defeat Bernadette SZOCS. She becomes the first player to win a European title using anti-topspin rubber since John HILTON captured the European Championships crown in 1980. While that remained HILTON’s only European title, WINTER has already collected two European women’s doubles titles and additional gold medals with the German women’s team. This was WINTER’s fifth appearance at the Europe Top 16 Cup, having previously reached the semifinals on three occasions. “This victory means very, very much to me. Winning the Europe Top 16 Cup is the most important international title of my career – and I will definitely celebrate it properly.” WINTER admitted she did not feel nervous before the final, despite the weight of the occasion. Her recent head-to-head record against the Romanian had been clearly in her favour: “Even though the last matches went clearly my way, I was prepared for a completely new contest in the final, because a final has its own rules. I didn’t put myself under pressure and just played point by point, fortunately, she still hasn’t found a way to beat me.” Ying HAN – Sabine WINTER 0-3 (8-11, 5-11, 9-11) In a re-run of last year’s semifinal, top seed Sabine WINTER justified her seeding and ended Han YING’s remarkable run of 14 consecutive wins, recorded across the 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026 editions (she missed 2024 due to injury), one of the longest winning streaks in the history of the Top 12/16 Cup. It was only the second time Han YING has lost a match at the Europe Top 16 Cup. Her previous defeat came in 2018, when she was edged out by Margaryta PESOTSKA in a thrilling seven-game quarterfinal. “The match was closer than the result suggests. Ying came up with a new tactic at the beginning, but fortunately I was able to adjust to it. I played well and with a lot of patience. I’m happy to be in the final now and, of course, I want to win the title,” said WINTER. Bernadette SZOCS – Jia Nan YUAN 3-1 (9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5) Among this year’s semifinalists, Bernadette SZOCS boasts the longest record at the Europe Top 16 Cup, having been ever-present since 2015 and making her 12th appearance in the competition. She lifted the title in 2018, finished runner-up in 2019 and reached the semifinals in 2021, 2022 and 2024. By defeating Jia Nan YUAN, SZOCS returned to the Europe Top 16 final for the first time since 2019. After beating Li JIE to win the 2018 title and then losing the 2019 final to Petrissa SOLJA, she needed seven attempts to reach another final, falling in the semifinals on three occasions and exiting in the quarterfinals twice. To book her place in this year’s final, SZOCS overcame the 2024 champion Jia Nan YUAN after recovering from the loss of the opening game. “I was very disappointed after the first game because I had started really well. I was leading 7–3 but still lost it, and at 9–9 I had my serve. I didn’t make the best decisions after my serve, and that frustrated me because normally that’s a strong part of my game. This time it simply didn’t work in the opening game,” said SZOCS. “When I went to my coach, I told him I had made poor decisions. He explained what I needed to change, and I tried to apply his advice and adjust my tactics. From that moment on, especially after it became 1–1, everything worked incredibly well. I stayed very positive, focused on every single point and tried to give my best. I know that if I make easy mistakes, I can lose, so I had to stay concentrated on every ball, even when she was in front. It’s always difficult to play against YUAN, our matches are often very close, but I’m very proud of myself for managing to win and reach the final again. As the match went on, I felt more and more confident. My tactics were working well, so I kept following the plan. I also had a couple of alternative options ready in case I needed to change something. In the end, my strategy worked perfectly, and I’m really proud of the way I handled the match.”

The men’s semifinalists for the final day of the 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup have been decided in Montreux. Darko JORGIC will take on Benedikt DUDA, while Félix LEBRUN meets Alexis LEBRUN in an all-French showdown for a place in the final.The fight for the top four positions in the men’s draw at the 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup takes center stage on day three of action at the Omnisports venue in Montreux. All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here. Felix LEBRUN – Anders LIND 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-5) Félix LEBRUN of France defeated Denmark’s Anders LIND in an almost exhibition-style performance, delighting the packed crowd in Montreux. “It was a very tense match. I expected a really difficult encounter, but I managed to control it from start to finish. I played a very strong game tactically, technically and physically, so I’m extremely happy. It gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the competition. It always feels great to win convincingly against a player of that level,” said LEBRUN. The lower half of the draw will also feature an all-French clash between Simon GAUZY and Alexis LEBRUN, ensuring France a place in the final. “Reaching a potential all-French final would clearly be something special. Unfortunately, we were all placed in the same half of the draw, but the goal is to have as many French players as possible fighting all the way to the final. Hopefully it turns out that way.” Darko JORGIC – Tomislav PUCAR 3–0 (11–4, 11–8, 11–7) Three-time champion Darko JORGIC of Slovenia powered into the semifinals with a straight-games victory over Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR. “It’s always very difficult to play against a close friend, someone you know so well. We train together almost every other day. It’s hard to find a real rhythm in a match like that because it’s mostly decided by serve, receive and the first ball,” explained JORGIC. Darko added: “I’m very happy with today’s win. I think I was dominant from start to finish and more aggressive in the key moments. I knew what to expect from PUCAR, and of course he knew what to expect from me as well, but maybe I made slightly fewer mistakes. I also had a bit of luck, especially in the second game, if it had gone to 1–1, you never know what could have happened.” The three-time winner, who has reached the final in each of the last four editions, did not hide his ambitions: “I’m looking ahead very positively and I feel I’m improving from match to match. For me, the Top 16 is one of the most beautiful tournaments. I have great memories here and I always enjoy coming back. My first goal was to return and at least reach the semifinals, knowing how strong the competition is. Of course, the ultimate goal is to win a fourth title. ” Marcos FREITAS – Benedikt DUDA 1-3 (14-12, 15-17, 7-11, 7-11) Benedikt DUDA of Germany overcame Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS after two fiercely contested opening games that went down to the wire. From the third game onward, however, the momentum shifted clearly in DUDA’s favor. “Marcos was a very tough opponent today. He has excellent serves and is playing much stronger than he has in recent months. Winning the second game was obviously important and also a bit of compensation for the unnecessarily lost first one. In games three and four I then had him under fairly good control,” explained DUDA. Tomorrow, DUDA will face Darko JORGIC in the semifinals. “The semifinal against Darko will be difficult. This venue is almost like his living room, he has won the tournament three times already and has looked very solid both yesterday and today. I won our most recent encounter, but he will certainly be eager for revenge.” Today’s victories meant more than just a place in the semifinals. The 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup also serves as a qualification event for the ITTF Singles World Cup. By reaching the semifinals, the top four players in both the men’s and women’s events have secured direct qualification for the prestigious global tournament. Simon GAUZY – Alexis LEBRUN 2-3 (11-7, 11-13, 12-10, 2-11, 12-14) In one of the most entertaining matches of the day, Alexis LEBRUN defeated Simon GAUZY in an all-French showdown. GAUZY answered the sharp speed of LEBRUN’s attacking game with power and precision, keeping control of the opening game and maintaining the pressure through the next two. From the fourth game onward, however, LEBRUN tightened his grip on the match to force a decider. GAUZY held one match point, but LEBRUN converted his third opportunity to seal the victory. “It was a real battle — I had to dig very deep into my reserves, so honestly it was a great match. Simon was very solid today as well, and I think we both produced a high level of play. He managed to trouble me in the short game, which slowed me down and made it harder for me to express myself, so to still come through is an immense source of pride,” said LEBRUN. Speaking about his preparation, he added: “I had reviewed the match we played recently in the club and discussed it with my coach afterwards, so I had a few tactical ideas going in. But he also arrived with some adjustments, and I wasn’t playing quite as well as I did in Toulouse, which made things more complicated. Still, I managed to rise to the challenge and I’m really happy. It’s never easy to play another French player, there’s always extra tension. Simon and I haven’t faced each other that often in competition,

The semifinal pairings for tomorrow’s decisive day at the 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup are now set. Jia Nan YUAN will face Bernadette SZOCS, while an all-German clash will see reigning champion Ying HAN take on top seed Sabine WINTER, as Europe’s elite battle for places in the final in Montreux. All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here. Sabine WINTER – Maria XIAO 3-1 (12-14, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9) Top seeded Sabine WINTER of Germany had a shaky start of the match against Maria XIAO of Spain before she took the control of the match. “I was somewhat relieved once the win was wrapped up. I lost the first game a bit unnecessarily, and even afterwards, despite holding clear leads, I never felt completely comfortable. In the fourth game she even closed the gap again at 7–8. I’m happy that I’ve reached the semifinals of a top European tournament once more opportunities like that don’t come around all that often,” explained WINTER. Jia Nan YUAN – Sofia POLCANOVA 3-0 (19-17, 11-4, 11-4) The 2024 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup winner Jia Nan YUAN defeated European champion Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria in straight games in the first quarterfinal match of the program. After a tense opening game, the match became a one-sided affair. “It was a very tense match at the beginning. After I won the first game, I felt much more relaxed in the second and third. In the first game I was especially focused, concentrating on every ball and thinking carefully about my serve and receive,” said YUAN. In the next round, YUAN will face the winner of the match between Bernadette SZOCS and Charlotte LUTZ. “For me, reaching the final day and qualifying for the ITTF Singles World Cup is very important. I’m really happy about it.” Fu YU – Ying HAN 2-3 (8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 4-11) Reigning champion Ying HAN of Germany advanced to the semifinals after a thrilling five-game clash with Portugal’s Fu YU. Fu YU put the three-time winner under constant pressure and twice fought back to level the match, but HAN raised her level in the decisive game to seal the victory. Fu YU had previously defeated the German defensive specialist in the final of the 2019 European Games in Minsk, so HAN was well aware of the scale of the challenge. “I’ve won most of my matches against her. I didn’t expect her to be this strong today, she made virtually no easy mistakes. But I stayed patient. I’m happy to be back in the semifinals and to have qualified for the World Cup.” Tomorrow will see a repeat of last year’s semifinal in an all-German clash between HAN and Sabine WINTER. “Of course I would like to win again, but this time it will be even harder against Sabine. She has improved. I’m playing well, but not quite as well as I did in January.” Bernadette SZOCS – Charlotte LUTZ 3-1 (11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 11-5) After a two-year of missing it, Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS has returned to the semifinals. On her way to the final day of the event, SZOCS ended the impressive run of France’s Charlotte LUTZ, who had come through the qualification phase and reached the quarterfinals after defeating Linda BERGSTROM the day before. LUTZ put SZOCS under considerable pressure, but it was not enough to prevent the Romanian from securing victory. “It was a very difficult match, but I expected that because every time we play it’s a big fight. Charlotte is a very aggressive player and our matches are always intense. Today she used a lot of variation, especially in the second game. I needed some time to adjust my tactics. My coach explained what I shouldn’t play against her, and that helped me get back on track. I stayed positive,” said SZOCS. Tomorrow, SZOCS will face Jia Nan YUAN. “In general I have a positive record against her, but she beat me here at the Top 16 three years ago. I was leading 3–1, 9–6 and still lost. This time I won’t give her the same chance again.” Today’s victories meant more than just a place in the semifinals. The 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup also serves as a qualification event for the ITTF Singles World Cup. By reaching the semifinals, the top four players in both the men’s and women’s events have secured direct qualification for the prestigious global tournament.

The second day of play at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in the Omnisports venue in Montreux brings together the continent’s elite 16 players in the women’s event. With the main draw underway, Europe’s top stars are set to clash in a series of high-level encounters as they battle for a place in the next stage of one of the most prestigious tournaments on the calendar. All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here. Maria XIAO – Elizabeta SAMARA 3-2 (8-11, 11-7, 24-22, 9-11, 11-6) The opening two games betwen Maria XIAOof Spain and Elizabeta SAMARAof Romania were shared, and the turning point of the match came in a dramatic third game. XIAO showed nerves of steel in a tense, high-quality battle. She raced to a 9–3 lead before SAMARA fought back to come back. XIAO reached game point at 10–7, triggering a nerve-wracking finish in which opportunities shifted from one side to the other. SAMARA had several chances to close it out, but XIAO seized her moment at 23–22 and finally secured the game 24–22. Competing in Montreux for the 16th time, SAMARA had reached the final last year, and her experience was evident. She responded in the fourth game, edging a tight contest to force a deciding set. XIAO, however, did not lose focus. Playing with control and patience, she managed the decider well to seal the victory. On her third appearance in Montreux, the Spaniard improved on her previous results, having finished ninth on both earlier occasions. “In the third game I think I had more than five set points. I was leading 10–7, if I remember correctly, and at that moment I felt a bit stressed because I really wanted to close the game. In the end we were both a little lucky, but I think I was slightly luckier in those final points. The key change was that I focused on relaxing my arm and simply playing my game, without thinking about the score. I just reacted to the ball and stayed in the rally. That mindset made the difference. After that, the fourth set went quite smoothly in SAMARA’s favor, and in the fifth my main priority was to keep the ball on the table, extend the rallies and avoid easy mistakes. I think that was important because Elizabeta became a bit tense and missed a few simple shots, which gave me extra confidence to finish the match,” said XIAO. Sabine WINTER – Xiaona SHAN 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-8) The all-German clash between last year’s semifinalists, top seed Sabine WINTER and No. 14 seed Xiaona SHAN, was a close contest, but WINTER never truly lost control. She justified her status by securing victory in straight games. “The first match of a tournament is always very difficult, especially against a teammate. Nana is a very strong player, and it was extremely important that I was able to win the second game after trailing 4–8. Otherwise, it would have been an even tougher battle to come through. I didn’t feel any of the muscular problems I’ve had in recent weeks during today’s match, I was pain-free,” explained WINTER. Jia Nan YUAN – Nina MITTELHAM 3-1 (11-6, 11-6, 5-11, 13-11) The clash between 2024 champion Jia Nan YUAN of France and 2021 winner Nina MITTELHAM of Germany highlighted the dominance of the more recent titleholder. After the opening exchanges, the pendulum swung decisively in YUAN’s favor from the third game onward. MITTELHAM maintained constant pressure, but YUAN responded with composure and sealed the victory in the fourth game. “I’m very happy because I had already played against her two or three times before and this time I finally won. In our previous matches, I think twice, I was leading 2–0 or 3–1, but I ended up losing 4–3. Even in the last game today it was very close. In my head I kept telling myself not to repeat what happened the last time. I stayed calm and focused on every single point,” said YUAN. Sofia POLCANOVA – Jieni SHAO 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-8) After the the superb start in opening two games Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA faced more challenging third part of the game. SHAO rose her play but Sofia whitstood the pressure. “ We’ve played each other many times, and I feel that against me she sometimes needs a little time to settle into the match. I’ve often had big leads before, even 2–0 or 3–1 and she has still managed to come back and play incredibly well. So I knew that even if the first two games seemed easy, the match was far from over. In the third set, she raised her level again and we had some amazing rallies. At 6–5 I was a bit lucky with a net ball, so today luck was on my side,” saod POLCANOVA. Austrian explained: “Tactically, I tried to step around more with my forehand. I had already done that in the first two games, but it became even more important in the third. I felt her backhand was very strong today and that I couldn’t break it with mine, so changing the rhythm and the placement of my shots was key.” Annett KAUFMANN – Ying HAN 2-3 (9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 6-11) In the second all-German duel, 19-year-old qualifier Annett KAUFMANN quickly found herself two games down against reigning champion, three-time winner and fourth seed Ying HAN. KAUFMANN reduced the deficit by taking the third game and maintained her patience to break through HAN’s defensive play, forcing the match into a deciding set. In the end, experience proved decisive in the fifth game. “Annett didn’t start the match very well, but then played much

On the second day of play at the 2026 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in the Omnisports venue in Montreux, the tournament’s biggest names entered the arena as the Round of 16 in the men’s event got underway. All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here. Jonathan GROTH – Darko JORGIC 1–3 (14–12, 3–11, 8–11, 8–11) Last year’s runner-up and three-time champion Darko JORGIC opened his campaign with a win over Denmark’s Jonathan GROTH. After a neck-and-neck battle in the opening game, JORGIC shifted into a higher gear and tightened his control of the match. In the fourth game, the Slovenian led 9–5, but GROTH forced a timeout at 9–8. The short break worked in JORGIC’s favor, as he regrouped and sealed the victory. “I may have started the first game a bit too passively, waiting for Jonathan’s mistakes, and in a few rallies I was overly aggressive, going for full power. The opening round is always tough and very important, and that adds extra pressure. After that, I found my rhythm. In the second game I began to dominate with my serve, my returns improved, and my overall game became more stable. I avoided the quick mistakes I made at the beginning of the match. I’m happy with this first win. As I said, the opening rounds are always the hardest, the ice is broken and now we move forward,” said JORGIC. Anders LIND – Dimitrij OVCHAROV 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-9) On his third appearance in Montreux, Denmark’s Anders LIND defeated Dimitrij OVTCHAROV, one of the most successful players in the history of the event, who has competed 16 times at the Top 16 and lifted the trophy on five occasions. “The opening round is always difficult. It never feels comfortable with new tables and new balls. Today I don’t think I played my best, but I performed as well as I could under these circumstances and got the most out of my game,” said LIND. LIND had previously faced OVTCHAROV twice, beating him most recently in league competition, but this time he introduced a new weapon. “I believe my serve made the difference today. I experimented with a few new variations and, for the first time in a match, I used some serves I had never tried before. They worked quite well. Sometimes trying new things can backfire, but today it helped me. I’m glad I took the risk and I plan to keep developing that part of my game.” Reflecting on the closing stages of the third game, LIND added: “I always get a bit nervous when I lead 2–0. I don’t really know why, but I rarely lose from that position, so it’s fine.” Anton KALLBERG – Benedikt DUDA 2-3 (6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-14, 13-15) European Championship runner-up and No. 5 seed in Montreux Benedikt DUDA recovered from a 1–2 deficit to defeat No. 9 seed Anton KALLBERG of Sweden. KALLBERG even held a match point in the fourth game before losing the duel by the narrowest of margins. DUDA claimed the opening game, but the momentum quickly shifted. KALLBERG’s powerful play dictated the pace and control of the match. The swing continued until 3–4 in the third game, when DUDA created his first real advantage and moved to three game points. Out of nowhere, KALLBERG erased them and surged forward to earn a match ball. Power and precision kept DUDA alive on the brink of defeat and forced the contest into a deciding game. The final exchanges were played neck and neck, with both players battling on a knife’s edge. “Anton played incredibly well today, much better than in my last clear win over him in the Bundesliga. He played the short game extremely well and produced some excellent forehand flips. It’s good to have won such a tight match in the first round. If it’s Möregårdh in the quarterfinals, I have nothing to lose, I’ve clearly lost the last matches against him.” Surviving match point in the fourth game proved to be a turning moment. “The most important thing was that I stayed in the match the whole time. After losing the first game, Anton started playing incredibly well, very aggressive and almost without mistakes, especially over the table. His forehand flick was so strong, like a Chinese penhold player. I don’t think I won more than a point or two against it. He was playing at a very high level, but mentally I kept myself in the game. Even when he had a match point in the fourth game, I believed I could still win and just focused on trusting myself,” added DUDA. The suspense carried into the fifth game. “Another key moment was at 6–6 in the fifth set. I lost two points on my serve and he had a big chance to finish the rally, but when he didn’t, I told myself to stay in the match because another opportunity would come. Staying that focused comes from a lot of mental training and experience. Matches are rarely easy — you don’t often step on court and win 3–0. Most of the time it’s a tough battle, especially in Europe where the level is so high. You have to accept that both players will win and lose points. In the end, it’s about making brave decisions, trusting yourself and taking your chances when they appear.” Felix LEBRUN -Alvaro ROBLES 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-7) There were no chinks in Felix LEBRUN’s armour in his duel against Alvaro ROBLES, who had come through the qualification stage a day earlier in Montreux. “It was a great opening round, a solid 3–0 win. There were a few tense moments in the middle of

The list of players for the Round of 16 of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup was completed after the opening day matches at the Omnisports venue in Montreux. Eight players in each category battled for the two remaining places that secured qualification among the top 16. In the women’s event, the successful qualifiers were Annett KAUFMANN of Germany and Charlotte LUTZ of France. In the men’s competition, Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia and Alvaro ROBLES of Spain claimed the available spots. Anna HURSEY of Wales put Annett KAUFMANN under heavy pressure in the deciding match today. HURSEY dominated the opening game and disrupted KAUFMANN’s rhythm, but on her debut the German player kept her composure and secured her first qualification for the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup main draw. KAUFMANN approached the round of 16 calmly after reaching her interim goal: “For me, everything from now on is a bonus. RAKOVAC and HURSEY were strong adversaries today; those were not easy matches. That’s why I’m especially pleased that, in my Europe Top 16 debut, I managed to reach the main draw with a good performance. Let’s see how the draw turns out tomorrow. I just hope I won’t have to play against one of my four national team teammates.” Tomislav PUCAR advanced to the main draw after overcoming Daniel HABESOHN of Austria and Iulian CHIRITA of Romania. After a very tight opening game against CHIRITA, the Croatian found his breakthrough. “The first game was probably the most important part of the match. The opening exchanges are always difficult, but I managed to take control early. When it reached 9–9, it felt like a crucial moment, and winning that first game gave me a mental advantage. The second game was also very close, but I stayed focused and managed to close it out. After going 2–0 up, it became harder for CHIRITA to come back. I had a strong start and finished the match well. It has been another long day here,” said PUCAR. Speaking about his duel with HABESOHN, PUCAR added: “The first match was excellent. I lost to HABESOHN here last year, so it’s never easy to play against him. If you give him a little time, he knows how to use it and win points, so it was important to be precise and aggressive, which I managed to do today. I closed the opening two games before he managed to swing the momentum back his way. That’s table tennis — at the end of a game it often comes down to courage and a bit of luck. I handled the closing moments well. In the third game I didn’t have a big lead, he caught up with me, but I managed to turn it around. It was 9–7, and thankfully I was able to close it.” Playing in her CCB Europe Top 16 Cup debut, Charlotte LUTZ of France defeated Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia and Rachel MORET of Switzerland to secure her place among the top 16 players. “I was a little stressed this morning because it was my first match at the Top 16 and I really wanted to qualify for the main draw. Despite the nerves, I managed to play very well. Even though I lost the first game, I gained confidence as the match went on and came back to win 3–1. I’m very happy with how I performed and I hope tomorrow will be even better and that I can go further in the competition,” said LUTZ. Reflecting on her match against LUPULESKU, which also went to four games, LUTZ added: “I had some problems at the beginning of the match and struggled with my receive. I tried to adjust immediately in the second game to regain control, and it worked well. I also focused on putting more balls on the table because my opponent plays very early, which sometimes causes me difficulties. I changed my approach and it proved effective.” Alvaro ROBLES defeated João GERALDO of Portugal and Pedro OSIRO of Switzerland to book his place among the top 16 players at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. “This morning’s match was very difficult. First of all, it’s never easy to come through qualification and reach the top 16. I had a tough match against Pedro OSIRO, it was 1–1 and very close. He was playing really well and very relaxed, but I stayed focused on turning the match in my favor. After that victory my main priority was to recover and refocus for the next match two hours later,” said ROBLES. He added: “I didn’t have the best feeling after the first match and needed to reset my game. I went for a walk and cleared my mind, enjoying the beautiful surroundings, and that helped me prepare again. I’m very satisfied with the result because João is a great player and I lost to him not long ago. That makes this win even more important for me, and I’m pleased to have progressed.” Qualification round Opening round All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here.

The qualification stage of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup got underway today at the Omnisports venue in Montreux. On Thursday, eight players in both the Men’s and Women’s events are competing for the final two places in the Round of 16. The qualification is played over two rounds, with the winners of the second round securing their spots in the main draw. All matches of the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup will be available live worldwide on ETTU.tv and YouTube ETTU official, except in the following countries and territories, where specific broadcast agreements apply and access is restricted (geo-blocked). In these regions, fans should follow the tournament exclusively on the official local broadcasters listed here. See the pictures by Remi GROS here. In the opening round, top seed Anna HURSEY of Wales recorded a swift straight-games victory over Georgina POTA of Hungary 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 . Annett KAUFMANN came under early pressure in her match against Lea RAKOVAC of Croatia. After narrowly losing the opening game, the German player quickly imposed her dominance and took control of the contest. In a closely contested encounter, Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia secured a straight-games victory over Daniel HABESOHN of Austria, despite the narrow margins in each game. PUCAR held his composure in the key moments to seal a 3-0 win and move forward in the competition. Iulian CHIRITA of Romania and Andrej GACINA of Croatia delivered the closest match in the morning program. Following a dominant start by CHIRITA, GACINA mounted a strong comeback, taking control with precise placement and sharp angles from corner to corner to force a decider. The Croatian led 9-4 in the final game, but CHIRITA responded with an impressive late surge, leveling the score and closing out the match to prevail 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9). Izabela LUPULESKU became the first Serbian woman in this century to compete at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup and marked her appearance in style. On her debut, she defeated Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania in four games to secure a memorable victory. Last time someone from Serbia was on the list was in 1992, when Gordana PERKUCIN represented Yugoslavia. Charlotte LUTZ of France disappointed the home supporters by overcoming Switzerland’s Rachel MORET in straight games, delivering a confident performance to advance. Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden fought back from a two-game deficit to force a decider against João GERALDO of Portugal in one of the closest and most entertaining matches of the day, highlighted by a series of powerful rallies. The deciding game remained level until 6-6, when GERALDO held his nerve in the closing stages to secure victory. Álvaro ROBLES of Spain completed the opening round with a victory over Pedro OSIRO of Switzerland. The host nation representative gave the crowd reason to cheer by taking the opening game, but ROBLES quickly leveled the score. The final two games were closely contested, with the Spaniard holding firm to secure the win. Opening round Georgina POTA of Hungary – Anna HURSEY of Wales 0-3 (6-11, 4-11, 8-11) Annett KAUFMANN of Germany – Lea RAKOVAC of Croatia 3-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6) Daniel HABESOHN of Austria – Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia 0-3 (8-11, 11-13, 9-11) Andrej GACINA of Croatia – Iulian CHIRITA of Romania 1-3 (8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 9-11) Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania – Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia 1-3 (9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 8-11) Rachel MORET of Switzerland – Charlotte LUTZ of France 0-3( 5-11, 4-11, 5-11) Joao GERALDO of Portugal – Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden 3-2 (11-5, 13-11, 5-11, 5-11, 11-8) Alvaro ROBLES of Spain – Pedro OSIRO of Switzerland 3-1 (9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8)