Europe Top-16 Cup | 16 Jan 2024

Top 16 Champion from 2018, Bernadette SZOCS, is No. 1 Seed at the 2024 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup

Top 16 champion from 2018, Bernadette SZOCS, is set to grace the 2024 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup as the top seed. This marks her 10th appearance in Montreux, Switzerland. In the previous year, she finished fifth, while 2022 saw Bernadette reaching the semifinals. In 2021, in Thessaloniki, the Romanian player secured a third-place finish, and in 2019, she was the runner-up.

"I am very excited to be back in Montreux for Top 16. Can't wait!" said SZOCS.

Joining her in Switzerland will be other top players, including Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria, Jia Nan YUAN of France, Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania, Nina MITTELHAM of Germany, Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden, Prithika PAVADE of France, Natalia BAJOR of Poland, Xia Lian NI, Jieni SHAO, and Fu YU of Portugal, Tatiana KUKULKOVA, and Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia, Maria XIAO of Spain, and Rachel MORET. Reigning champion Ying HAN of Germany was forced to withdraw, and the name of her replacement will be revealed at the beginning of the week.

"Everyone participating is a top player, so all of them are in the best shape and ready for Top 16. I have to be focused in all the matches and play my best. I am not afraid of anyone," stated SZOCS.

Last week, she competed at the WTT Star Contender in Doha, losing in the Round of 32 against Swede Linda BERGSTROM. Despite the setback, Bernadette affirmed that she is in good shape and, as always, sets her goal to reach the very top.

"I am ready for all the obstacles! My goal for Top 16, of course, is to win."

Reflecting on 2023, SZOCS considered it a very good year.

“I played in Nagoya, where the top 16 players from around the world gathered. At the WTT Champions in Frankfurt, I reached the quarterfinals. In Germany, I secured another victory against the Olympic champion CHENG Meng for the second time.”

The European Games brought further success, with SZOCS becoming the European Champion in singles and team events, as well as securing third place in mixed doubles. She also finished second in the team event in Malmo at the European Championships. In singles, she recorded valuable wins against Chinese players and other top players from Asia.

As for her wish in 2024?

"My wish for the new year is to win an Olympic medal in Paris 2024! Of course, if it can be a gold one, I will be the happiest person in the world."