France’s Alexia NODIN continued her impressive run at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships by winning Group 7 and securing her place in the knockout stage.
The 15-year-old French player has quietly put together one of the strongest campaigns of the tournament so far. Her journey was far from straightforward. NODIN began the championships with a 0-3 defeat against Germany’s Lorena MORSCH in Stage 1, leaving her with little room for error. She responded in style, beating Czechia’s Hanka KODET 3-0 and Finland’s Maria GIRLEA 3-0 to progress to Stage 2.
Once there, NODIN raised her level again.
Her campaign in Group 7 started with a dramatic comeback victory over Croatia’s Dora COSIC. Trailing 1-3, she recovered to win 4-3 before following up with a 4-0 victory against Portugal’s Mariana SANTA COMBA.
The decisive match came against Austria’s Nina SKERBINZ, the highest-seeded player in the group. Although the scoreline ended 4-0 in NODIN’s favour, the French player insisted it was much closer than it appeared.
“The games were actually quite close, even though the score was 4-0. I managed to win the important points and didn’t really give her the chance to get into the match. I’m very pleased with how I played.”
Reflecting on her group campaign, NODIN admitted the opening match against COSIC had been the toughest challenge.
“The first match against COSIC was quite complicated. I found myself trailing 1-3, but I managed to come back and win 4-3. I didn’t panic and stayed calm throughout the match.”
Her second victory also carried extra significance.
“Against SANTA COMBA, I was playing a girl I had lost to 3-0 not long ago, so I was very happy to win this time 4-0.”
The results in Cluj-Napoca continue a strong season for the young French player, who has already made two WTT Youth Star Contender Under 19 finals this year.
“I reached two WTT Youth Star Contender finals in the Under 19 category. I think those are my two best results of the year. Considering that I will only turn 16 this year, I’m very happy with that.”
After recovering from an opening-day defeat in Stage 1 and then coming through a demanding Stage 2 group, NODIN heads into the knockout rounds with confidence and momentum on her side.
Last year at the European Youth Championships NODIN clinched gold medal in doubles partnering Lou -Anne BOCQUET in Under 15 event.
PHOTO by: Mihaela-Ionela BOBAR and Simion Sebastian TĂTARU
