The Men’s Doubles semifinals at the European Championships in Ljubljana will feature an all-French encounter between brothers Félix and Alexis LEBRUN and Esteban DORR and Florian BOURRASSAUD, while Sweden’s Anton KALLBERG and Kristian KARLSSON and Moldova’s Vladislav URSU and Andrei PUTUNTICA have also secured their places on the podium. The quarterfinals produced two dramatic five-game battles, a remarkable Swedish comeback and a historic achievement for Moldova, with all four winning pairs now guaranteed at least a bronze medal. KALLBERG and KARLSSON produced one of the most impressive comebacks of the morning, recovering from 0-2 down to defeat Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Dang QIU 3-2. The Swedish pair lost the opening two games 8-11, 8-11, but responded to take the next three 11-9, 14-12, 12-10. “We didn’t feel like we were far behind, even being down 2-0. So we had to make some small adjustments and kept believing that the match was ours to win or lose. It was close all the way to the end, so we really had to leave it all out there,” said KARLSSON. KALLBERG believes the manner of their victory will give the pair additional confidence heading into the medal matches. “This win obviously boosts our confidence, not only because of how we played but also how we turned the match around. We were at our best when it was most important, which is often what it comes down to in the latter stages of a European Championship.” The LEBRUN brothers also had to battle through five games to overcome Finland’s Alex NAUMI and Benedek OLAH 3-2. After losing the opening game, the French pair moved 2-1 ahead before their opponents forced a decider. Félix and Alexis eventually prevailed 11-8 in the fifth game. “Of course, it was a huge relief, especially knowing that we’ve secured a medal. We want to go further, but we’re already very happy to have guaranteed ourselves a medal. It was an extremely difficult match, with so much tension. To come through in the end, especially after being in such a difficult position, feels really good. I think our celebration was definitely a reaction of relief,” said Félix LEBRUN. Alexis LEBRUN shared his brother’s emotions. “I feel exactly the same as Félix. We’re very happy to have secured a medal, but it was incredibly tough. We really had to dig deep and rely on our fighting spirit to get through. That makes the victory even more satisfying.” Their semifinal opponents, DORR and BOURRASSAUD, overcame Serbia’s Zsolt PETO and Uroš NINKOVIC 3-0. Although the result suggested a comfortable victory, the French pair faced a difficult opening game, recovering from 8-10 down to win 12-10 before taking the following two games 11-7, 11-8. “It was a really tough match, even though the score doesn’t suggest that. A 3-0 result looks convincing, but every game was difficult, especially the first one. We were trailing 10-8, but we managed to come back to 10-10. We made some tactical adjustments, won that opening game, and I think that gave us a psychological advantage,” explained DORR. “We are really happy. This is our second medal at a major championship after winning bronze at the World Championships last year. Now we are delighted to have the opportunity to play in the European Championships semifinals.” BOURRASSAUD is looking forward to the challenge of facing his compatriots, with whom he regularly trains. “We will work on how to beat the LEBRUN brothers. That’s our task for this afternoon and tomorrow morning. Of course, we know them very well. We train together all the time, including in Doubles, so we know each other’s games. They are definitely the big favourites, but we will try to disrupt their rhythm, create an opportunity and take it. We will do our best.” “Playing a European Championships semifinal against our friends is something special. We are grateful to be here, and we will fight like hell to win and secure our place in the final.” Moldova’s URSU and PUTUNTICA completed the semifinal line-up with a commanding 3-0 victory over Belgium’s Adrien RASSENFOSSE and Martin ALLEGRO. Their success was particularly significant for PUTUNTICA, who celebrated his first European Championships medal. “It feels great! It’s our first medal playing together and my first medal overall at the European Championships. This is actually the first time we have competed together in Doubles at the European Championships, and we already have a medal. It’s a wonderful feeling,” said PUTUNTICA. “We have developed our own system and we understand each other very well. He knows me, I know him, and somehow everything works. We take it step by step, and I feel that we have controlled most of the matches we have played so far.” The Moldovan pair had not arrived in Ljubljana with a medal as their stated target. “To be honest, we didn’t come here with a medal as our goal. We just wanted to play and enjoy the game as much as possible, and somehow it worked. Everything that comes now is a bonus, but we are confident and we will definitely fight,” added PUTUNTICA. For URSU, the medal carries both personal and national significance. “This is my second European Championships medal in Doubles. It’s nice to win another one, although the first medal is always the sweetest. Of course, we are very happy, and we will fight to reach the final. It will certainly be difficult, but we have to find the right solution against our next opponents. I feel quite confident in my game, so I just need to maintain my concentration.” “It means a lot for our country because we don’t have many medals. I won Moldova’s first European Championships medal together with my Austrian partner, Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK. Now we have three medals in total.” With all four pairs having secured their medals, attention now turns to the semifinals and the battle for places in the European Championships final.

Poland, Romania and Germany, together with a Slovak-Polish partnership, will be represented in the Women’s Doubles semifinals at the European Championships in Ljubljana after an exciting morning of quarterfinal action. The Polish combination of Zuzanna WIELGOS and Anna BRZYSKA survived a five-game battle against France’s Prithika PAVADE and Charlotte LUTZ, while Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS and Elizabeta SAMARA, Germany’s Annett KAUFMANN and Nina MITTELHAM, and Slovakia’s Tatiana KUKULKOVA alongside Poland’s Natalia BAJOR also secured medals. WIELGOS and BRZYSKA were pushed to the limit by the French pair before prevailing 3-2. After winning the opening game 11-6, the Polish duo lost the next two games 9-11, 9-11, but responded impressively to take the fourth and fifth games 11-4, 11-3. “We started well and won the first game 11-6, but then we lost the second and third games 11-9, so it was very close. We were leading in the third game, but we knew we still had a chance. We tried to stick to our tactics, and we managed to come back in the fourth game,” explained BRZYSKA. “I think we played really well in the fourth and fifth games. We stayed committed to our tactical plan, and that was the key.” WIELGOS also highlighted the tactical adjustments that helped turn the match around. “At 1-2 down, we decided we needed to play better, put more balls on the table and be ready for the returns because our opponents were getting a lot of balls back. I tried to counterattack well, while Anna had to be ready for the next ball. I think we won most of our points when I played a stronger shot and Anna finished the rally with the following ball.” Romania’s SZOCS and SAMARA secured their semifinal place with a 3-1 victory over Germany’s Ying HAN and Sabine WINTER. The Romanian pair combined aggressive play with tactical discipline to overcome opponents whose different playing styles presented a significant challenge. “I’m very proud of us. We complemented each other very well today and played amazingly. Everybody knows that they are very strong players, and we knew from the beginning that it would be a very difficult match. But we prepared very well, and the most important thing was that we found the key to winning in the end,” said SZOCS. SAMARA explained that maintaining their approach throughout the match was essential. “I think the key was staying calm and not changing our tactics. We had to remain consistent and play the same way from the first ball until the last. We had to take a timeout, but in the end, the most important thing is that we won.” Germany’s KAUFMANN and MITTELHAM also booked their places in the last four, defeating Serbia’s Sabina SURJAN and Izabela LUPULESKU 3-1. The German pair recovered from losing the opening game to take the next three and guarantee themselves a place on the podium. “We struggled a little in one game, but towards the end of the first game, we could already feel that we were getting into the match more and more. After that, we had our opponents under control. Our playing styles now complement each other very well, and so do we as a partnership. We have very different personalities and needed some time to get used to each other, but by now it’s working really well,” said KAUFMANN. The Slovak-Polish combination of KUKULKOVA and BAJOR produced an impressive straight-games victory over Mariia TAILAKOVA and Elizabet ABRAAMIAN, winning 11-5, 12-10, 11-9. The victory marked another important achievement for the partnership, which had previously won bronze at the European Championships in Linz. “We are very happy. All the games were extremely close, and I think the first game was particularly important. In the second game, we were trailing 4-7, but we managed to come back and win 12-10. That was another crucial moment. Our opponents played very well, but I think today we produced our best performance in the three years we have played together,” said BAJOR. The pair reunited after a break in their partnership. “We played together for around three years before taking a one-year break. We reunited for the European Championships and also played a Feeder tournament together in Berlin. We already have a bronze medal from Linz, so this is another very special achievement for us,” BAJOR added. KUKULKOVA praised their preparation and determination against difficult opponents. “I have to say that I’ve been improving since the first day, and today was really good. I think we gave our best on every ball. We told ourselves that we had to fight and be vocal from the very first point because we knew how strong our opponents were.” “I think winning the toss and choosing to receive was already a very important decision because we knew exactly how we wanted to play. Our tactics were unbelievable today. Everything we planned seemed to work.” The Slovak player was especially pleased to have achieved the objective she had set for the day. “Winning a medal was my goal today. I even said it to the Slovak media, so I’m very happy that we achieved it.” With four semifinal places decided, all remaining pairs are assured of medals, while the race for the Women’s Doubles title continues in Ljubljana.

The opening day of the Women’s Singles main draw at the European Championships in Ljubljana delivered drama, major upsets and remarkable comebacks. Shuohan MEN of the Netherlands produced one of the biggest results of the day, defeating Spain’s Maria XIAO in a seven-game thriller, while Türkiye’s Ece HARAC recovered from 1-3 down to eliminate Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA. MEN prevailed 4-3 (14-12, 9-11, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 15-13) in a contest that went right to the wire. After taking the opening game, the Dutch player lost three consecutive games and found herself facing elimination. However, she fought back to level the match before holding her nerve in a dramatic deciding game, which she eventually won 15-13. HARAC produced an equally impressive comeback against the vastly experienced SAMARA, winning 4-3 (9-11, 11-7, 13-15, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7). The Turkish player admitted that the emotional challenge was particularly difficult because of her close relationship with her opponent. “We know each other very well because she’s my teammate in the league, and she’s also like a big sister to me. At 3-1 down, I just told myself to enjoy the match and fight for every point. That’s exactly what I did, and I managed to win,” said HARAC. The turning point came when she found a better answer to SAMARA’s service. “I was struggling a little with her serves at the beginning, but as the match progressed, I adapted better and better. Once I started receiving more effectively, I gained confidence, and I think that helped me a lot.” Slovenian celebrations as TOFANT and TOKIC advance The home crowd at Arena Stožice had plenty to celebrate as Ana TOFANT and Sara TOKIC both progressed to the Round of 32. TOFANT produced one of the finest victories of her career, defeating Portugal’s experienced Fu YU 4-1 (11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8). “Definitely one of the biggest wins of my career. The only one that comes close was when I beat Bernadette SZOCS in the Italian league back in March. Even then, I could hardly believe what was happening. I don’t think I’ll be falling asleep anytime soon tonight. It’ll probably take me a day or two, maybe even a week, to fully realise what I’ve done and who I’ve beaten today,” said TOFANT. Despite her impressive performance, the Slovenian admitted that doubts briefly appeared. “I only started having some doubts towards the end of the third game and at the start of the fourth because I felt I could have been 3-0 up. The Portuguese player played smartly, but I knew I was feeling the ball well, so I had to make the most of that and take my chances.” TOFANT explained that her determination to play without hesitation ultimately paid off. “Before the match, I’d promised myself I wouldn’t hesitate. I went for it at the end of the second game, but it didn’t pay off. I was a bit frustrated because I could perhaps have played it a little safer. Then, in the fourth game, I fell behind but managed to catch her and move ahead. I realised I was still in front, which gave me a real boost. From there, I just focused on one point at a time and kept going until the end.” TOKIC also gave the Slovenian supporters reason to cheer with a 4-1 victory over Türkiye’s Sibel ALTINKAYA (14-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5). “I was a little nervous at the start. There was some pressure playing in front of the home crowd, even though they were cheering me on, which was really nice. I think I was mentally stronger today. I took it point by point and never gave up, even when we were 1-1 in games and I was 5-2 down. I managed to turn it around and take a 7-5 lead. I stayed really strong mentally and felt I handled the match well,” said TOKIC. POLCANOVA and WINTER make confident starts Defending champion Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria began her title defence with a 4-0 victory over Italy’s Nicole ARLIA (12-10, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8), despite arriving in Ljubljana after suffering from illness. “I think I played quite well today. I had the flu a couple of days ago, and at first I was a little disappointed because I wasn’t feeling very well. But once the match started, the adrenaline helped, and I felt okay. I’m just trying to do my best,” explained POLCANOVA. The Austrian highlighted the importance of the opening two games, particularly the second, in which she recovered from 8-10 down. “She’s a very fast player, so I had to disrupt her rhythm a little. I think the first two games were really important, especially the second one, when I was 8-10 down. Most of the time, I felt I was really in the zone and able to concentrate well. I think that was also the key.” Top seed Sabine WINTER of Germany was equally convincing, defeating Veronika KOTSIUR 4-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8). “I didn’t know my opponent before, but I managed to find a video of her to help me prepare. I really enjoyed today’s match. I moved well, and there were lots of good rallies. Now I’m focusing on tomorrow, starting with the doubles match alongside Ying, which takes place before my singles match,” said WINTER. Her German teammate Ying HAN also advanced without dropping a game, overcoming Poland’s Katarzyna WEGRZYN 4-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6). “I had to work hard for my win, even though it was 4-0. We know each other very well from the Polish league and have played against each other many times. She had nothing to lose, and it was a good match. I think I’m gradually finding my rhythm in the Singles competition. Today’s match definitely helped me with that,” said HAN. SZOCS recovers as YUAN and DE NUTTE progress Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS recovered from losing the opening game against Spain’s Sofia ZHANG to secure a 4-1 victory (7-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8). “It was

Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC produced a remarkable comeback in front of his home crowd at the European Championships in Ljubljana, recovering from 2-3 down to defeat Spain’s Diego LILLO 4-3 in a thrilling Men’s Singles Round of 64 encounter. Defending champion Alexis LEBRUN, his younger brother Félix LEBRUN and several other leading contenders also advanced as the Singles main draw got underway at Arena Stožice. JORGIC, the fourth seed, faced a much tougher opening test than expected against the Spanish qualifier, who grew in confidence as the contest developed. The Slovenian took the opening game 11-4 but struggled to establish control. LILLO fought back repeatedly and, after winning the fourth and fifth games, moved within one game of a major upset. With his home supporters urging him on, JORGIC found another gear. He claimed the sixth game 11-8 before finally imposing his authority in the decider, winning 11-6 to complete a dramatic 4-3 victory (11-4, 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6). “It was similar at the last European Championships in Linz. I played a Hungarian in the first round and a Norwegian in the second, and both matches were really tough. You can feel the pressure, especially when you’re one of the favourites,” admitted JORGIC. “The first few matches are always different when you’re up against qualifiers who have already played three matches and are warmed up. You could tell that I wasn’t quite finding my rhythm. I was too stiff on the return and struggled to deal with his long and short serves. That was the key.” JORGIC acknowledged that the Spaniard had taken advantage of his difficulties. “If I’d got that right from the start, like I did in the final game, the score probably would have been 4-0. After the second game, the Spaniard started playing better and hit some really powerful shots, especially off his backhand. He gained confidence, and in the end, it turned into a really close match that could have gone either way right until the finish.” The Slovenian also highlighted the challenge of adapting to the conditions in the arena. “The balls are fast, they don’t bounce much, and they have a lot of spin. That’s table tennis, though. Every playing surface is different. I think I felt the biggest difference on his long, fast serves. The ball seemed to skid off the table, and I was often a fraction too late.” Despite the difficulties, JORGIC was optimistic about improving in the next round. “The quicker you adapt, the better you play. The guys coming through qualifying have already played a few matches, so they’re warmed up and in rhythm. I’ve played doubles, which isn’t quite the same, but it still helps you get into the flow of competition. Tomorrow is a new day, and I really hope I can play better.” Defending champion Alexis LEBRUN makes commanding start France’s Alexis LEBRUN began his defence of the European Men’s Singles title in impressive fashion, defeating Portugal’s experienced Tiago APOLONIA 4-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-0, 13-11). The Frenchman, who claimed the title in Linz two years ago, dominated the opening three games, including a remarkable 11-0 third game. APOLONIA offered greater resistance in the fourth, but LEBRUN held his nerve to close out the contest without dropping a game. His younger brother Félix LEBRUN also made a successful start, recording a 4-0 victory and expressing satisfaction at being able to conserve energy for the challenges ahead. “It was a quick match to start the competition, which is good because I managed to save some energy. I think the third game was the key. I started very well with my serves and caused him some problems. He began to play better as the match progressed, but winning that third game probably affected his confidence a little. After that, I was able to take the fourth game and secure a 4-0 victory. It’s a great start to the competition,” said Félix. The French star admitted that he was still managing some minor physical problems. “I still have a few minor physical issues that are taking longer than expected to go away, which is quite frustrating. But I’m trying to manage them as well as possible, spending time with my physiotherapist and fitness coach so that I can gradually improve my physical condition and get stronger as the competition progresses.” Sweden’s Truls MOREGARD also progressed without dropping a game, defeating the Netherlands’ Ivan KAHN 4-0 (13-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7). Looking ahead to his Round of 32 encounter with Germany’s Andre BERTELSMEIER, MOREGARD expects another demanding contest. “We had a close battle in the US Smash this summer, so I’m expecting a tough game where I’ll need to avoid his strengths. He’s really good in rallies, so I’ll be focusing on directing the game away from them as much as possible,” explained MOREGARD. His compatriot Anton KÄLLBERG survived a much tougher test against Nikita ARTEMENKO. Having taken a 2-0 lead, the Swede was forced into a deciding game before securing a 4-3 victory (11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 12-14, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8). “A very close game. I really had to give it my all and he played very well, so I’m very happy that I managed to find a high level in the decider and clinch the victory,” said KÄLLBERG. Kristian KARLSSON completed another Swedish success, beating Germany’s Kay STUMPER 4-1. After already competing in Mixed Doubles earlier in the day, KARLSSON admitted that maintaining his energy and concentration had been a concern. “I was a bit worried earlier today about how focused and pumped I would manage to be after the mixed doubles this morning. But I’m happy with what I delivered and feel really confident going forward,” said KARLSSON. Elias RANEFUR added to Sweden’s successful opening day, recovering from losing the first game to defeat Croatia’s Andrej GACINA 4-1. He was particularly pleased with his performance in the service and receive phases. “He is a very good player, so today I’m very happy with how well I played

Romania’s Eduard IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS, Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Nina MITTELHAM, Sweden’s Kristian KARLSSON and Christina KÄLLBERG, and France’s Alexis LEBRUN and Charlotte LUTZ have secured medals at the European Championships in Ljubljana after advancing to the Mixed Doubles semifinals. See the photos by Jure MARKOVEC here. Two quarterfinals went the full five games, with Romania and France surviving dramatic finishes, while Germany and Sweden progressed in straight games. With bronze medals guaranteed to all four semifinalist pairs, the focus now turns to the battle for the European title. For Bernadette SZOCS, the 3-2 victory alongside Eduard IONESCU over France’s Thibault PORET and Prithika PAVADE was particularly emotional. The Romanian pair recovered from losing the opening game and held their nerve in a tense decider to prevail 9-11, 13-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9. “I am so happy and excited. I cannot describe how I feel right now. It was a very difficult match. Our opponents were leading, but we stayed positive and kept fighting. I think the key was how well we complement each other,” said SZOCS. The Romanian star, who arrived in Ljubljana with 13 European Championship medals, including three gold, highlighted the understanding she has developed with IONESCU, both at the table and away from competition. “We knew it would be a very difficult match, and we had prepared several tactics. Sometimes I was down, sometimes he was down, but we knew how to keep each other positive. We complement each other very well, and I think it also helps that we are good friends away from the table.” Although this is their first European Championships together, the Romanian combination had already demonstrated its potential on the WTT circuit. “Of course I am happy about the medal. This is our first European Championships playing together, and we have already achieved some amazing results on the WTT circuit. I believed we could win a medal because we play so well together. Now we want to relax a little because it was an unbelievably tough match, and then we will prepare for our next opponents.” Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Nina MITTELHAM continued their impressive run in Ljubljana with a 3-0 victory over Moldova’s Alexandra CHIRIACOVA and Vladislav URSU (12-10, 11-5, 11-9), securing their place in the Mixed Doubles semifinals and guaranteeing a medal. Although the scoreline suggested a comfortable victory, the opening and third games were closely contested, with the Germans prevailing by just two points on each occasion. “When you are playing for a medal, it doesn’t matter who is on the other side of the table. You have to deliver your best performance. Matches like these are never easy,” said MITTELHAM, a five-time European champion. “I became a little nervous at times. Making two service errors at 10-8 is something that normally doesn’t happen to me. I’m very happy that we managed to get through those difficult moments.” Their success in Ljubljana represents a significant improvement for a partnership that had struggled earlier in the season. At three WTT tournaments together this year, DUDA and MITTELHAM were eliminated in the opening round of the main draw on each occasion. For DUDA, the difference lies in their growing understanding of each other’s game. “We have found our playing style and adapted well to each other. I know what Nina does on receive, and she knows what I generally do on receive. That means we get the kind of balls back that we are used to dealing with in Singles. That’s why it is working so well,” explained DUDA, the Men’s Singles silver medallist at the 2024 European Championships in Linz. After eliminating defending champions and top seeds Álvaro ROBLES and Maria XIAO of Spain in the Round of 16, the German combination now faces Romania’s Eduard IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS for a place in the final. “If we continue playing like this, we will be really difficult to beat. Tomorrow, we will give everything,” added DUDA. Sweden’s Kristian KARLSSON and Christina KÄLLBERG were equally impressive, defeating Portugal’s Miguel SANTA and João GERALDO 3-0 (13-11, 11-7, 11-2). After edging a closely contested opening game, the Swedish pair grew increasingly dominant, producing an assured performance to secure their place among Europe’s leading four combinations. “I think we played a really good match from start to finish, just like in the Round of 16 yesterday. When we are aggressive and follow up each other as well as we did today, we know we are a very tough match for anyone,” said KARLSSON. For KÄLLBERG, the victory brought a particularly special milestone: her first European Championship medal. However, the Swedish player made it clear that the pair’s ambitions extend beyond reaching the podium. “It feels incredible. To claim a medal here is something I’ve dreamt of and fought for, for a very long time. However, when we’re playing at this level, there’s no reason to celebrate yet, as we have our eyes on the gold,” said KÄLLBERG. France’s Alexis LEBRUN and Charlotte LUTZ completed the semifinal line-up after surviving another five-game thriller against Luxembourg’s Luka MLADENOVIC and NI Xia Lian. The French combination prevailed 3-2 (13-11, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9), with the deciding game remaining on a knife-edge until the final two points. “It was not the best combination at the end, but we managed to win those two points for 11-9 in the fifth. I took some risks on the return, so I’m very happy and proud of us. It was a great match, very difficult and very strange, so I’m very happy to secure this medal,” said LEBRUN. For LUTZ, the result represented her first European Championship medal, achieved after a contest that tested the French pair’s nerves and tactical flexibility. “For me, it’s the first medal ever, so I’m very happy that we managed to win this match in the end. It was a really difficult situation for us, but we found solutions to win the fifth game. It was very stressful, but we made the right choices at

The Women’s Doubles quarterfinal line-up at the European Championships in Ljubljana is complete following eight Round of 16 encounters, with top seeds Bernadette SZOCS and Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania advancing alongside strong performances from Germany, France and Poland. Serbia’s Sabina ŠURJAN and Izabela LUPULESKU produced the most dramatic comeback of the day, recovering from two games down to keep their medal hopes alive. See the photos by Jure MARKOVEC here. Top seeds Bernadette SZOCS and Elizabeta SAMARA continued their campaign with a straight-games victory over Croatia’s Lea RAKOVAC and Hana ARAPOVIC (11-9, 11-8, 11-6). Although the Croatian pair remained competitive throughout the opening stages of each game, the experienced Romanian combination showed greater consistency and composure at the decisive moments. “We both played very well. We complemented each other perfectly, and I think that was the key to winning the match. We are very positive about the next round because we played really well together,” said SZOCS. The Romanian player highlighted communication and anticipation as the decisive factors. “The most important thing was communication. We knew where the ball was going and where we needed to move. We also avoided making easy mistakes. Our opponents played amazingly well at the beginning of the games, but they tended to make mistakes towards the end. We knew it would be a difficult match, so we stayed focused from the very beginning. I think our shots had more quality, and our ball placement prevented them from playing their own game,” explained SAMARA. France’s Prithika PAVADE and Charlotte LUTZ, seeded 11th, delivered one of the standout performances of the day, defeating fourth seeds Andreea DRAGOMAN and Adina DIACONU of Romania in straight games (14-12, 11-5, 11-7). The opening game proved crucial, with the French pair prevailing 14-12. From that moment, PAVADE and LUTZ took control, maintaining their attacking rhythm and putting their opponents under pressure. “It was definitely not an easy match. The first game was really tight, and we managed to win it. After that, I think we dominated, but we had to stay focused on every point because we felt they could come back at any moment,” said PAVADE. The French combination have set their sights on reaching at least the semifinals, although LUTZ stressed the importance of approaching each match without unnecessary pressure. “We have very big goals in this tournament. We really want to reach the semifinal and even further if possible. But we will prepare for the next match as usual, treating it like a normal match so we don’t put too much pressure on ourselves. Whoever we face, it will be tough. We will prepare as well as possible and give 100 percent,” said LUTZ. Second seeds Annett KAUFMANN and Nina MITTELHAM of Germany also secured their place in the last eight, overcoming Sweden’s Christina KÄLLBERG and Filippa BERGAND 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5). The German pair established a two-game advantage before the Swedes responded by taking the third. However, KAUFMANN and MITTELHAM quickly regained control, dominating the fourth game to close out the contest. Germany’s HAN Ying and Sabine WINTER secured their place in the Women’s Doubles quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory over Luxembourg’s NI Xia Lian and Sarah DE NUTTE, the 2021 World Championships bronze medallists. “We knew beforehand that this would be a very difficult match, and we had a lot of respect for our opponents. We had to step outside our comfort zone, try something different and change our tactics. Ying attacked more, which was necessary, and she did it very well and with great courage,” said WINTER. The German praised the understanding she has already developed with HAN, despite the pair only beginning their European Championships campaign together the previous day. “Even when I have to stretch to reach a ball and can only manage to put it back on the table, I know Ying will be there for the next shot. She is incredibly reliable,” explained WINTER. Looking ahead to their quarterfinal against Romania’s top seeds Elizabeta SAMARA and Bernadette SZOCS, HAN acknowledged the challenge. “The two Romanians are a very strong and well-established doubles pair. We have a chance if we fight really hard,” said HAN. WINTER was equally determined. “We are an awkward pair to play against, and it won’t be easy for them either. We will fight for every ball again and make sure we win those difficult points.” The most dramatic encounter of the day saw Serbia’s Sabina ŠURJAN and Izabela LUPULESKU recover from two games down to defeat Italy’s Gaia MONFARDINI and Nicole ARLIA 3-2 (7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 14-12, 11-2). The Serbian duo, bronze medallists at the 2024 European Championships in Linz, struggled in the opening stages as the Italians established a commanding advantage. However, ŠURJAN and LUPULESKU refused to surrender, edging two extremely tight games before dominating the decider. “I think we started playing in a very nervous and almost panicky way. We are defending our medal from Linz, and I personally felt a lot of pressure. But after going 0-2 down, we managed to calm ourselves, started taking it point by point and began playing much smarter. I think that was the key to turning the match around,” explained ŠURJAN. LUPULESKU highlighted the strong emotional connection between the two players and the importance of supporting each other during difficult moments. “I draw a lot of energy from Sabina. If she is nervous, I become nervous too. If she is calm, I become even calmer. In our partnership, Sabina is usually the one who finishes the points, while I create opportunities and set things up for her. When things aren’t going well for her, I try to take more responsibility and help her regain her confidence,” said LUPULESKU. The Serbian player admitted that the pair had not produced their best performance but was delighted with their fighting spirit. “As my father always says, the quality of great players is that they find a way to win even when they aren’t playing well. That’s the attitude

Defending champions Alexis and Félix LEBRUN of France continued their title defence at the European Championships in Ljubljana, while Serbia’s Uroš NINKOVIC and Zsolt PETO celebrated a remarkable breakthrough as the Men’s Doubles quarterfinal line-up was completed. Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Dang QIU produced an extraordinary comeback, Moldova’s Vladislav URSU and Andrei PUTUNTICA survived a five-game battle, and Belgium’s Adrien RASSENFOSSE and Martin ALLEGRO also came through a dramatic encounter. See the photos by Jure MARKOVEC here. The LEBRUN brothers faced a challenging test against Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC and Deni KOZUL, with the home favourites pushing them all the way in the opening game. The French pair eventually prevailed 15-13 before taking the next two games 11-9 and 11-8 to complete a 3-0 victory. Despite the straight-games scoreline, the match was far from comfortable for the defending champions. “It’s always difficult to play against Darko and Kozul. It was a tough match. We won the first game by a very narrow margin, and the second was also close. It could have been much more difficult, so we are very happy to win 3-0,” said Alexis LEBRUN. The victory keeps the French brothers on course to defend the European title they won in Linz two years ago. “We are still on the road. We are in the quarterfinals, so we are happy about that. We have just beaten a very strong pair, which gives us confidence for the rest of the tournament. We will see what happens next,” said Felix LEBRUN. With both brothers competing in singles and doubles, managing their demanding schedule is another challenge. “I’m very happy to finish early today! I hope I won’t have to play the last match of the evening session every time. Of course, competing in three draws is not easy, but for the moment I feel good,” said Alexis. Felix added: “It’s a tough schedule, of course, but we are starting to get used to it. The last time I had a similar situation, travelling from Asia to Europe, I played really well. I hope it will be the same this week.” One of the most emotional victories of the day belonged to Serbia’s Zsolt PETO and 18-year-old Uroš NINKOVIC, who defeated Slovakia’s Jakub ZELINKA and Lubomir PISTEJ in a five-game thriller. The Serbian pair, competing together for the first time, took the opening game 11-8 before the Slovaks levelled. PETO and NINKOVIC regained the advantage by taking the third 12-10, but their opponents forced a decider. The fifth game was another tense battle, with the Serbians eventually prevailing 13-11 to secure their place among Europe’s top eight pairs. For NINKOVIC, who turns 19 in approximately ten days, the achievement was almost impossible to comprehend. “This is an enormous achievement for me. Honestly, I never imagined I could reach the last eight in Europe in any category, let alone at senior level. I haven’t even achieved that in juniors this year! It’s really something special, and I still can’t quite believe what we’ve accomplished,” said NINKOVIC. The young Serbian admitted that the closing stages tested his nerves. “We were leading 1-0, then 2-1, and we also had the lead in the fifth game. At 11-10, I was definitely nervous, but fortunately I had my more experienced partner beside me to take responsibility when it mattered most.” For the experienced PETO, the unexpected success has made their first tournament together particularly memorable. “It’s an unbelievable story because this is actually the first time we’ve played together. At the beginning, I thought we would just enjoy ourselves, play some doubles and see how far we could go. But here we are, one victory away from a medal!” said PETO. The Serbian player, who revealed that he had been ill at the beginning of the Championships, hopes their remarkable run is not over. “I was actually ill at the start of the Championships, and quite a few people have already joked that I play better when I’m sick than when I’m healthy! We’ve had some incredible moments throughout the tournament. I wouldn’t say we’ve won because of luck, but perhaps luck has finally started to follow us a little. I hope this isn’t where our journey stops. We want to keep going tomorrow. We want a medal,” said PETO. Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Dang QIU staged another remarkable comeback, recovering from two games down to defeat Russia’s Evgenii TIKHONOV and Vladimir SIDORENKO 3-2 (8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-0). TIKHONOV and SIDORENKO made an excellent start, taking the opening two games and moving within one game of the quarterfinals. However, DUDA and QIU responded with greater consistency, narrowing the deficit before levelling the contest. The deciding game was completely one-sided, with the German pair winning 11-0 to complete an extraordinary turnaround. Moldova’s Vladislav URSU and Andrei PUTUNTICA also needed five games to secure their quarterfinal place, overcoming Germany’s Wim VERDONSCHOT and Andre BERTELSMEIER 3-2 (8-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4). The German combination twice took the lead, winning the opening game and then edging a closely contested third 12-10. However, the Moldovan pair responded strongly on both occasions. After dominating the fourth game, URSU and PUTUNTICA carried their momentum into the decider. “The match was very evenly balanced throughout. We were always close, at 5-5 or 6-6. I think the turning point came in the fifth game when we were leading 5-4. I played a slightly unusual backhand shot towards the middle to make it 6-4. I felt that point gave us a lot of confidence. Otherwise, the whole match was extremely close,” explained PUTUNTICA. The Moldovan duo, both left-handed, arrived in Ljubljana without particularly high expectations in Doubles, but their impressive run has continued into the last eight. “We came here as two left-handed players without particularly high expectations. We had played together before and performed well, but against stronger opponents it was always difficult. So far, things have been going well. This was actually the first time we lost two games, as we had won