Tomorrow’s Under 15 Boys Teams final at the European Youth Championships in Gondomar will feature fourth seeds Poland and third seeds Germany after both teams came through demanding semifinal encounters. Poland survived a five-match thriller against eighth seeds France, while Germany overcame Sweden in straight matches despite facing stiff resistance throughout.
Fourth seeds Poland produced a remarkable comeback to defeat top seeds France 3-2 in one of the most dramatic ties of the tournament.
Noah TESSIER gave France the ideal start with a commanding straight-games victory over Jakub TURECKI. Poland responded immediately as Hubert KWIECINSKI levelled the tie with an equally convincing straight-games win over Nolan JOHNSTON.
France edged back in front after a thrilling doubles contest. Noah TESSIER and Quentin SANDONA established a two-game lead over TURECKI and KWIECINSKI before the Polish pair fought back to force a decider. The French duo regained control in the fifth game, winning 11-6 to move within one point of the final.
KWIECINSKI once again proved decisive, defeating TESSIER in straight games to level the tie at 2-2 and send the semifinal into a deciding fifth match.
The final singles produced an unforgettable finish. JOHNSTON looked set to clinch victory after taking the opening two games against TURECKI, but the Pole refused to surrender. He edged the third game 12-10, saved another match in the fourth with a 14-12 victory, and completed the comeback by winning the decider 12-10, sending Poland into the final.
“I think the most important thing was the atmosphere on the bench. We supported each other throughout the match and never gave up. Both Jakub and I played really well, and that team spirit made the difference. The opponents were very strong, so it was never going to be an easy match, but I believed in my own level and knew I could win my matches.
The doubles is always an important point in a team match, although today we managed to win even without taking it. At 2-2, when Jakub was trailing 0-2 in games, we knew it would be very difficult, but we never stopped believing in him. We were confident he could come back, and he did it in an incredible way. I didn’t even realise the exact scores during the match because I was so focused, but it was an amazing comeback and a fantastic team victory.”
Third seeds Germany defeated sixth seeds Sweden 3-0, although the scoreline did not reflect how closely contested the tie was.
Tien Nghia PHONG recovered from dropping the opening game against Emil ELLERMANN to win the next three 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 and hand Germany the first point.
Lukas WANG then came through another demanding encounter against Erik KOGERFELT. After the players shared the opening four games, WANG dominated the decider 11-4 to double Germany’s advantage.
The doubles completed the victory, but not before another dramatic battle. PHONG and WANG appeared to be cruising after taking the opening two games, only for Sweden to push them all the way in the third. The German pair eventually converted the match on their fifth opportunity, winning 18-16 to secure their place in tomorrow’s final against Poland.
France – Poland 2-3
- Noah TESSIER – Jakub TURECKI 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-6)
- Nolan JOHNSTON – Hubert KWIECINSKI 0-3 (8-11, 6-11, 5-11)
- Noah TESSIER, Quentin SANDONA – Jakub TURECKI, Hubert KWIECINSKI 3-2 (11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6)
- Noah TESSIER – Hubert KWIECINSKI 0-3 (9-11, 6-11, 5-11)
- Nolan JOHNSTON – Jakub TURECKI 2-3 (11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 12-14, 10-12)
Germany – Sweden 3-0
- Tien Nghia PHONG – Emil ELLERMANN 3-1 (7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7)
- Lukas WANG – Erik KOGERFELT 3-2 (10-12, 13-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4)
- Tien Nghia PHONG, Lukas WANG – Emil ELLERMANN, Erik KOGERFELT 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 18-16)
