BERZOSA Survives Thriller to Stay Perfect

Top seed Daniel BERZOSA of Spain endured his toughest test yet at the Europe Youth Top 10 in Tours but preserved his unbeaten record after six rounds. Facing Slovakia’s Samuel ARPAS, the Spaniard trailed 1–3 and was forced into a dramatic seventh game. In the decider, BERZOSA saved multiple match points before finally closing the contest 17–15, keeping his perfect 6–0 tally intact.

Earlier in the day, BERZOSA looked composed, sweeping aside England’s Connor GREEN in straight games and defeating Belgium’s Tom CLOSSET 4–1.

Home player Nathan LAM continued in good rhythm. Seeded no. 3, he opened the day with a solid 4–1 victory against Czechia’s Stepan BRHEL, but then suffered his first defeat of the event. England’s GREEN, seeded no. 7, edged him in a pulsating seven-game duel, with the Frenchman unable to convert his chances despite leading 2–1. LAM, however, bounced back in style by overpowering Belgium’s CLOSSET in straight games in the final round, keeping himself firmly in the hunt with a 5–1 record.

Another French contender, Antoine NOIRAULT, has been equally impressive. After a six-game win over ARPAS in Round 4, he added back-to-back victories against Poland’s Rafal FORMELA (4–0) and Marcel BLASZCZYK (4–1). With four wins from six matches, NOIRAULT has climbed into the top three.

Round 4

• Nathan LAM (France) – Stepan BRHEL (Czechia) 4-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 13-11, 13-11)
• Daniel BERZOSA (Spain) – Connor GREEN (England) 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 13-11, 11-6)
• Antoine NOIRAULT (France) – Samuel ARPAS (Slovakia) 4-2 (6-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 13-11)
• Marcel BLASZCZYK (Poland) – Tom CLOSSET (Belgium) 4-2 (11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8)
• Flavio MOURIER (France) – Rafal FORMELA (Poland) 2-4 (6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 6-11, 10-12)

Round 5

• Samuel ARPAS (Slovakia) – Marcel BLASZCZYK (Poland) 2-4 (11-9, 8-11, 6-11, 13-11, 6-11, 9-11)
• Connor GREEN (England) – Nathan LAM (France) 4-3 (17-15, 6-11, 10-12, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7)
• Tom CLOSSET (Belgium) – Daniel BERZOSA (Spain) 1-4 (5-11, 12-10, 6-11, 3-11, 7-11)
• Stepan BRHEL (Czechia) – Flavio MOURIER (France) 4-3 (11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 10-12, 12-14, 8-11, 11-9)
• Rafal FORMELA (Poland) – Antoine NOIRAULT (France) 0-4 (8-11, 7-11, 6-11, 3-11)

Round 6

• Daniel BERZOSA (Spain) – Samuel ARPAS (Slovakia) 4-3 (11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-6, 17-15)
• Nathan LAM (France) – Tom CLOSSET (Belgium) 4-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8)
• Rafal FORMELA (Poland) – Stepan BRHEL (Czechia) 4-3 (10-12, 11-4, 13-11, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9)
• Flavio MOURIER (France) – Connor GREEN (England) 4-2 (9-11, 5-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10)
• Antoine NOIRAULT (France) – Marcel BLASZCZYK (Poland) 4-1 (11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7)