European Youth Championships | 14 Jul 2024

Drama Unfolds as Portugal Edges Sweden in Under-15 Girls' Teams Event

Top two seeds, Germany and Poland, booked their place in the Under-15 Girls' Teams event at the European Youth Championships in Malmö, securing their progress to the quarterfinals without any alarm. However, the drama was reserved for the duel between Portugal and Sweden.

Three out of four matches went the full distance. Siri BENJEGÅRD gave Sweden a dream start with a win over Beatriz PINTO, but Portugal quickly turned the tide. Julia LEAL overcame Gabriela AALTONEN and Siri BENJEGÅRD, while the doubles match concluded in five games, with Portugal winning three of them 11-9. Angelina BEBAWY joined BENJEGÅRD in doubles for Sweden, while LEAL and PINTO played for Portugal.

"I still feel nervous. It was very tough matches, going 3-2, 3-2, 3-2. Everything was so tense, and I’m still shaking. After the last match, I felt amazing. This is what I really needed. I started tense, but then I could play more freely and then it was comfortable. We will continue to fight for every point in this tournament," said LEAL.

The reigning European Under-15 singles champion, Hanka KODETOVA, along with Simona HOLUBOVA, launched Czechia to the quarterfinals after a 3-1 win over Hungary's Nora DOHOCZKI and Sophie BARCSAI.

"We played well in singles, and our tactic was to go much with forehand. The opponents played well, but in the end, our team was the strongest," said KODETOVA.

Germany's Koharu ITAGAKI and Lisa-Sophie WANG won their singles matches against Türkiye's Duru KIRBAÇ and Ela Su YÖNTER. Then, Josephina NEUMANN joined ITAGAKI to secure the win in the doubles. Germany will face Austria in the semifinals.

In the lower half of the draw, Poland's Maja LAKOMA and Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA overcame Slovakia's Nela ONDRUSOVA and Liliana Alicja GUASSARDO in straight matches. Poland will play against France in the quarterfinals.