European Championships | 17 Aug 2022

Sabina SURJAN created top rated upset by beating YU Fu

Placed at the position no. 37 at the seedings of the Women's Singles Event at the European Championships in Munich 2022, Sabina SURJAN of Serbia caused a major upset in the Round of 64. Sabina beat no. 7 seed YU Fu of Portugal, runner up at the European Championships 2016 in Budapest.

Sabina won after six games (9:11, 13:11, 14:16, 11:9, 11:9).

“I really had a tough journey towards main draw and best of 64. I was only second in the group stage, had to play two matches in the preliminary round; beat Romania's BALLINT in the decisive game by narrow margin...It was hard journey but it paid off. On the other side YU had her first match in Singles here and that was the detail I took the full advantage,” said Sabina.

Sabina was 1:2 in reverse, then she won fourth game, but she was struggling until the end of that part of match.

'From that moment I saw I got her. I realized she does not have the answer when I attack her on her backhand and I seized my opportunity. At the begining I did not have any illusions I could beat her, but during the game I felt it.”

In the Round of 64 Irina CIOBANU of Romania no. 59 seed created the upset by beating Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia no. 28 seed after remarkable recovery from 1:3 in reverse (11:5, 19:21, 11:7, 14:12, 7:11, 11:13, 3:11).

“LUPULESKU played very well. Her game was very difficult for me to the last point, but my mental strength prevailed. I managed to recover and to win thanks to my calmness. I was focused and I kept my mind on the ball all the time,” said CIOBANU.

Adina DIACONU of Romania no. 26 seed, suffered by the hands of Katarzyna WEGRZYN of Poland no. 76 seed.

Tin Tin HO of England no.43 beat Sarah DE NUTTE of Luxembourg nno. 19. She needed full seven games (9:11, 11:6, 9:11, 11:6, 11:6, 5:11, 12:10).

Romania's Elizabeta SAMARA needed only four games to overcame Dutch representative MEN Shuohan.

"For me the first round is always tough because I don't know my opponent. This time I was really well-prepared against her and I can't wait to play the next match. My shape is quite OK. I like everything at the European Championships Munich 202); the venue, the ball, everything is as it should be, “said SAMARA.

SAMARA is coming from a surgery.

“Two months ago I did a surgery on the disc in my back so right now I'm just enjoying being able to play without no pain.I talked to my doctors and they said 'if you do it in May then you're able to be in Munich'. Munich was my main reason for the surgery."

On what motivates her:

"I've won the gold medal in all four disciplines; teams, mixed doubles, doubles and singles and what I can achieve above that will be like a bonus for me."