Poland, Romania and Germany, together with a Slovak-Polish partnership, will be represented in the Women’s Doubles semifinals at the European Championships in Ljubljana after an exciting morning of quarterfinal action.
The Polish combination of Zuzanna WIELGOS and Anna BRZYSKA survived a five-game battle against France’s Prithika PAVADE and Charlotte LUTZ, while Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS and Elizabeta SAMARA, Germany’s Annett KAUFMANN and Nina MITTELHAM, and Slovakia’s Tatiana KUKULKOVA alongside Poland’s Natalia BAJOR also secured medals.
WIELGOS and BRZYSKA were pushed to the limit by the French pair before prevailing 3-2. After winning the opening game 11-6, the Polish duo lost the next two games 9-11, 9-11, but responded impressively to take the fourth and fifth games 11-4, 11-3.
“We started well and won the first game 11-6, but then we lost the second and third games 11-9, so it was very close. We were leading in the third game, but we knew we still had a chance. We tried to stick to our tactics, and we managed to come back in the fourth game,” explained BRZYSKA.
“I think we played really well in the fourth and fifth games. We stayed committed to our tactical plan, and that was the key.”
WIELGOS also highlighted the tactical adjustments that helped turn the match around.
“At 1-2 down, we decided we needed to play better, put more balls on the table and be ready for the returns because our opponents were getting a lot of balls back. I tried to counterattack well, while Anna had to be ready for the next ball. I think we won most of our points when I played a stronger shot and Anna finished the rally with the following ball.”
Romania’s SZOCS and SAMARA secured their semifinal place with a 3-1 victory over Germany’s Ying HAN and Sabine WINTER.
The Romanian pair combined aggressive play with tactical discipline to overcome opponents whose different playing styles presented a significant challenge.
“I’m very proud of us. We complemented each other very well today and played amazingly. Everybody knows that they are very strong players, and we knew from the beginning that it would be a very difficult match. But we prepared very well, and the most important thing was that we found the key to winning in the end,” said SZOCS.
SAMARA explained that maintaining their approach throughout the match was essential.
“I think the key was staying calm and not changing our tactics. We had to remain consistent and play the same way from the first ball until the last. We had to take a timeout, but in the end, the most important thing is that we won.”
Germany’s KAUFMANN and MITTELHAM also booked their places in the last four, defeating Serbia’s Sabina SURJAN and Izabela LUPULESKU 3-1.
The German pair recovered from losing the opening game to take the next three and guarantee themselves a place on the podium.
Meanwhile, the Slovak-Polish combination of KUKULKOVA and BAJOR produced an impressive straight-games victory over Mariia TAILAKOVA and Elizabet ABRAAMIAN, winning 11-5, 12-10, 11-9.
The victory marked another important achievement for the partnership, which had previously won bronze at the European Championships in Linz.
“We are very happy. All the games were extremely close, and I think the first game was particularly important. In the second game, we were trailing 4-7, but we managed to come back and win 12-10. That was another crucial moment. Our opponents played very well, but I think today we produced our best performance in the three years we have played together,” said BAJOR.
The pair reunited after a break in their partnership.
“We played together for around three years before taking a one-year break. We reunited for the European Championships and also played a Feeder tournament together in Berlin. We already have a bronze medal from Linz, so this is another very special achievement for us,” BAJOR added.
KUKULKOVA praised their preparation and determination against difficult opponents.
“I have to say that I’ve been improving since the first day, and today was really good. I think we gave our best on every ball. We told ourselves that we had to fight and be vocal from the very first point because we knew how strong our opponents were.”
“I think winning the toss and choosing to receive was already a very important decision because we knew exactly how we wanted to play. Our tactics were unbelievable today. Everything we planned seemed to work.”
The Slovak player was especially pleased to have achieved the objective she had set for the day.
“Winning a medal was my goal today. I even said it to the Slovak media, so I’m very happy that we achieved it.”
With four semifinal places decided, all remaining pairs are assured of medals, while the race for the Women’s Doubles title continues in Ljubljana.
