Andre BERTELSMEIER secured the Men’s Singles title at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca after defeating compatriot Wim VERDONSCHOT in an all-German final. BERTELSMEIER claimed gold, VERDONSCHOT took silver, while Connor GREEN of England and Darius MOVILEANU of Romania earned bronze medals.
The final brought together two players who had already enjoyed outstanding championships. VERDONSCHOT arrived carrying the momentum of his Men’s Doubles gold medal and Mixed Doubles silver, while BERTELSMEIER was aiming to complete his own successful campaign with the biggest prize of all.
For much of the final, BERTELSMEIER appeared in complete control. The German raced into a commanding 3-0 lead, taking the opening games 11-7, 11-9 and 11-6. However, VERDONSCHOT showed the fighting spirit that had carried him throughout the week, winning the next three games to level the match and force a deciding seventh game.
With the title hanging in the balance, BERTELSMEIER delivered his strongest game of the match. He quickly established control in the decider and powered to an 11-3 victory to secure the European Under 21 crown.
The victory crowned an excellent week for BERTELSMEIER and rewarded years of dedication.
“Means that all the hard work I put in every day was worth it. It’s amazing to lift the trophy. Many good players won it before me and this gives me confidence for the future,” said BERTELSMEIER.
The newly crowned champion admitted that the final was every bit as demanding as expected against a player he knows extremely well.
“We know each other well. It was tough. After being 3-0 up he came back. I was a bit fresher in the end. He played more matches, maybe this is why I won. It was 50-50 all the way.”
BERTELSMEIER also revealed that he embraces the pressure that comes with competing for major titles.
“You can see it as pressure or fun. It is an honour to have that pressure and play for a title. It was my second final. I think about winning, not losing, and that gives me excitement for the match.”
The German felt comfortable from the moment he arrived in Cluj-Napoca, believing his preparation under local conditions helped him build momentum throughout the week.
“From the start of the tournament I had a good feeling. I came here early to train under the conditions. After the first match I felt good and I kept feeling good throughout the whole tournament.”
Asked about the most difficult moment of his title run, BERTELSMEIER pointed directly to the deciding stages of the final.
“The seventh set here. At deuce there is a lot of pressure to find solutions, and in the end I found them.”
Looking back on the championships as a whole, he took particular satisfaction from sharing success with his teammate and final opponent.
“I am proud of every match.In the end I won two titles, one with Wim and one against him. It is a good example of our work together.”
Third seed VERDONSCHOT secured his place in the Men’s Singles final after defeating seventh seed Connor GREEN of England 4-2 (6-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7).
The semifinal was a rematch of a previous encounter between the two players, and VERDONSCHOT expected another difficult challenge. After dropping the opening game, the German adjusted his approach and gradually took control of the contest.
“I knew it would be a hard match against Connor. We played last year as well and it was a tough battle,” said VERDONSCHOT.
GREEN’s serve proved to be one of the biggest obstacles throughout the match.
“His service, especially his backhand service from the middle of the table. The long one had a lot of backspin and was difficult to handle.”
The turning point came after the opening game, when VERDONSCHOT made tactical changes that allowed him to dictate play more effectively.
“It was very important to stay disciplined. I changed my tactic a bit after the first set and after that I felt good. I had the feeling that he didn’t really have solutions.”
The German has been one of the most consistent performers throughout the week and believes his form is improving at the right moment.
“I’m playing well and I’ve already played a lot of matches here. I lost in the mixed doubles final last night, but this win gives me confidence. Now I will watch the other semifinal and see what happens.”
Reaching the final marks a significant milestone in his Under 21 career.
“It means a lot, especially because now I can play in the Senior European Championships. This is my third Under 21 Championships and I have never reached the final before.”
Germany’s Andre BERTELSMEIER, the No. 2 seed, booked his place in the final after defeating Romania’s Darius MOVILEANU, the No. 4 seed, 4-1 (11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9).
In front of the home crowd, MOVILEANU fought hard to stay in contention, but BERTELSMEIER controlled much of the semifinal, particularly in the opening two games. The German made a strong start, taking the first game comfortably before edging a crucial second game to build a gap.
MOVILEANU responded by claiming the third game and briefly shifted the momentum, but BERTELSMEIER quickly regained control to close out the match in five games and secure his place in the championship match.
“It was a tough match. Darius is a very good and very strong player. I was able to dominate many of the games and I’m very happy to advance to the final,” said BERTELSMEIER.
The German highlighted the importance of his fast start and tactical discipline.
“I had a very good start, especially in the first two games. I dominated the first game. In the second he was ahead for a while, but after the halfway point I changed my tactic and managed to win it. In the close situations I had a good plan and that made the difference.”
Maintaining concentration was another key factor against a dangerous opponent.
“It required a lot of focus. It’s always important to stay focused because if I slip even a little bit, I can lose. My opponent was very strong, so I had to keep my concentration high.”
Reflecting on his tournament so far, BERTELSMEIER expressed satisfaction with his performances.
“In singles it has been very good. I managed to dominate many matches and win them. Doubles has also gone well. In mixed doubles we lost in the first round, but we weren’t really used to each other as a pair.”
Men’s Singles
Finals
Wim VERDONSCHOT (Germany) – Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany) 3-4 (7-11, 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 3-11)
Semifinals
Connor GREEN (England) – Wim VERDONSCHOT (Germany) 2-4 (11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 4-11, 4-11, 7-11)
Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany) – Darius MOVILEANU (Romania) 4-1 (11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9)
PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU
