Europe Top-16 Cup | 23 Feb 2023

Bernadette SZOCS: I believe I can do it again

Top 16 champion from 2018 Bernadette SZOCS is coming to 2023 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup as no 6 seed. In Montreux she will play for 9th time. Last year she reached the semifinal; in 2021 in Thessaloniki, Bernadette finished third and in 2019 she was runner up.

There are no doubts about her current shape, since SZOCS radiate with energy.

"I am very good physically and mentally so I am ready for the big fight!" stated leading Romania's player. "I practiced a lot and hard to be in the best shape for the event. I believe in myself and in my game; I am in a very good shape and I believe I can do it again!"

At the list of players at the China Construction Bank Europe Top 16 Cup are also: HAN Ying of Germany, Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria, Nina MITTELHAM of Germany, YUAN Jia Nan of France, YU Fu of Portugal, Hana MATELOVA of Czechia, NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg, Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania, Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia, Linda BERGSTROM of Sweden, SHAO Jieni of Portugal, Georgina POTA of Hungary,Rachel MORET of Switzerland, Christina KALLBERG of Sweden, Natalia BAJOR of Poland.

"It will not be easy, but I am ready. I do not care who will be on the opposite side of the table, because if you want to be a champion you need to beat everyone!"

Last year, SZOCS clinched gold at the European Championships in Munich in the Doubles event with Sofia POLCANOVA, but as a highlight of the year she pointed at another moment.

"My last year was very good! One of my dreams came true -I beat Olympic champion CHENG Meng. As I used to say, everything it’s possible!"

This year also started well. At the WTT Contender Amman Bernadette reached the final partnering Ovidiu IONESCU.

"I am happy with my performance in Mixed doubles – it is first time we reach the final. So far, the highest we went was the third position. I hope we will keep going like that and one day we will reach the top place."