Europe Top-16 Cup | 21 Jan 2024

Hat-trick for JORGIC, first title for YUAN

The winners of the 2024 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux are Jia Nan YUAN of France and Darko JORGIC of Slovenia. It is a hat-trick for JORGIC, who clinched the title for the third time in a row, while YUAN became the first woman from France to reach the highest step on the medal rostrum. Bronze medalists in the Men's event are Marcos FREITAS of Portugal and Alexis LEBRUN of France. In women's Singles, Bernadette SZOCS of Romania and Nina MITTELHAM of Germany finished third.

Photo: Rémy Gros

Darko JORGIC - Truls MÖREGÅRD 4-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7)

In the final of the Men's Singles at the 2024 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup, JORGIC showed superiority strengthened with the confidence that came from previous titles. In the re-run of the final of the 2022 Top 16 Cup, JORGIC dominated in the match against Swede Truls MÖREGÅRD.

“Truls and I know each other very well for a long time. Last month we trained together in Sweden for a Top 16,” said JORGIC.

It was MÖREGÅRD who won the opening game.

“At the beginning, I was a little nervous. I had 4-1 at the start, but then MÖREGÅRD had two lucky balls, and that shook me a little. In the next game, I found my focus again. I played “my” game. I was more aggressive in all segments from service, return of the service, and in the play. I did not make easy mistakes. I am happy with how I performed today,” stated JORGIC.

Darko is the 4th player to win the Top 16/12 3 times in a row after Beatrix KISHAZI (1971-72-73), NI Xialian (1996-97-98), and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (2025-16-17). No one ever won 4 in a row.

With 3 wins, he is now the 5th man in the all-time Top 16/12 standings. Jan Ove WALDNER and Timo BOLL lead with both 7 victories, Dmitrij OVTCHAROV won 5, Vladimir SAMSONOV 4. In the women only Beatrix KISHAZI (4) and LI Jiao (4) won more.

Darko is the only one ever to win the Cup 3 times in the same city and the same hall.

Photo: Rémy Gros

Jia Nan YUAN – Sofia POLCANOVA 4-3 (11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 10-12, 5-11, 11-4, 11-6)

Carried by the frantic support from the fully packed tribunes in the Salle Omnisport du Pierrier in Montreux, Jia Nan YUAN clinched her first-ever title in women's Singles for France at the 2024 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup, becoming only the second French player to win it after Jean Philippe GATIEN in 1997. In the final, the reigning European champion in Mixed Doubles overcame the title holder in Singles and Doubles Event in Europe, Austria's Sofia POLCANOVA, who reached the final in Montreux last year as well.

“I am so proud of this title. I did not expect to win when I came here. I lost in the opening round last year. My heart is still beating like crazy. I have to thank for all the support I received today; the spectators gave me the courage to reach the top,” said YUAN after the final.

YUAN had a better start, but POLCANOVA was never far behind. Sofia won the second game, the close fourth, and she was furious in the fifth, before YUAN took the full control over the match.

“It is the first time that we played against each other, and it was very difficult. I just tried to be fully focused,” said YUAN.

YUAN won the gold medal in mixed doubles at the European Championships with LEBESSON in 2022; bronze in doubles with LOEUILLETTE and in mixed with LEBESSON in 2020; bronze in Teams event at the Europeans in 2021 and 2023.