Alexia NODIN from France emerged as the champion in the Girls Singles Event at the Under 13 European Championships. In the final she defeated the second-seeded Hanka KODETOVA from Czechia.
Seeded number 11 Alexia NODIN of France reached the final with a flawless record winning all her matches by a score of 3-0. Not only did she defeat the second-seeded player but she also emerged victorious against the top seed in the event.
NODIN played a total of 15 matches winning all of them. The game score was 45-3 with a point tally of 510-245. The only points she lost were in her matches against KODETOVA.
The final was a different match compared to the team phase of the competition where Alexia had secured a 3-1 victory. This time she was pushed to a full five-game encounter.
“Yes it was a different match than two days ago. Alexia had the lead in the first and third games but lost both after reaching 10-10. However she remained calm for most of the match which was not easy and she was very focused in the fifth set. I am truly happy for her ” said coach GUILLAUME.
Prior to the European Championship Alexia had hoped to secure a medal.
“Yes I wanted to stand on the winner’s podium but I also aimed to deliver my best performance in Zagreb. I was under immense stress before the final but after it ended I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I feel great now ” expressed the victorious NODIN.
This year NODIN reached the semifinals of the Under 13 event in Spa and the quarterfinals in Metz. Hanka KODETOVA reached the final of the Under 15 event in Linz where she also claimed the Under 13 title. She reached the quarterfinals of the Under 15 events in Tunis and Berlin as well.
Alexia defied the odds and overcame the number one seed Josephina NEUMANN from Germany in the penultimate stage of the event. NEUMANN struggled to find a response to NODIN’s defensive style of play.
“It was an excellent semifinal for Alexia. Josephina has a powerful shot and we knew that controlling the first two shots was crucial followed by seeking opportunities for an attack. Of course we had to avoid rushing the attack because Josephina is very dangerous with fast balls. I didn’t have any specific expectations regarding the results; as always my only desire was for Alexia to play her best table tennis. We knew her weaknesses in the game and we tried to exploit them which worked this time ” emphasized French coach Simonin GUILLAUME.
Before securing the bronze in Zagreb Josephina NEUMANN had already achieved good results this year. The German player reached the final of the WTT Contender in Cairo in the Under 17 event played in the quarterfinals of the U15 events at Contenders in Vila Nova de Gaia Podgorica and Tunis and even reached the Round of 16 twice this year in U19 events in Cairo and Linz. She had not lost a game until the semifinals of the Under 13 Championships.
In the semifinals Hanka KODETOVA easily prevailed against Lizett FAZEKAS.
“I am very happy with Hanka’s performance. Lizett is the youngest player here in the event so we expected this win. What we did not expect was the seventh position at the end of the Team’s event ” said Czechia’s coach Alena VACHOVCOVA.
Only 10 years old Hungarian player was previously severely challnged in the quarters against Romania’s Patricia STOICA but after five games no. three seed prevailed. Lizett won two titles in Under 11 events at the Contenders in Linz and Berlin this year. She is finalists from Spa and also reached the semifinal of the Under 13 event in Spa Berlin and Havirov.
Girls final
Hanka KODETOVA of Czechia – Alexia NODIN of France 2-3 (14-12 5-11 13-11 9-11 6-11)
Semi Final
Josephina NEUMANN of Germany -Alexia NODIN of France 0-3 (9-11 11-13 7-11)
Hanka KODETOVA of Czechia – Lizett FAZEKAS of Hungary 3-0 (11-7 11-6 11-8).
