European Championships | 16 Oct 2024

Austria's Nina SKERBINZ Stuns in Qualification at the 2024 LIEBHERR European Championships

Austria's Nina SKERBINZ created the biggest upset of the qualification stage at the 2024 LIEBHERR European Championships in Linz. Born in October 2009, and without points in the European or World Rankings, she made an impressive debut for the national team, securing a spot in the Preliminary Round after three wins in the group stage.

Nina defeated Aleksandra JERSOVA of Latvia in straight games, Ema LABOSOVA of Slovakia (ranked No. 182 in the world), and Natalia BOGDANOWICZ of Poland (ranked No. 290).

"I decided to give it my all, to fight and show what I can do. I didn’t have any great expectations. The fact that I ended up with three wins makes me very happy, I didn’t expect that," said SKERBINZ, who recently achieved 4th place at the Europe Youth Top 10 last week in Poland.

In the Preliminary Round, she will face Matilda HANSSON of Sweden.

Overall, the Austrian women competing in the singles qualification, grouped in sets of four, also delivered outstanding performances.

Liu YUAN (39) secured her place in the main draw directly after three wins, finishing in the No. 1 position in group 16. She triumphed over Patricia SANTOS of Portugal, Ozge YILMAZ of Türkiye, and Anna BRZYSKA of Poland.

Karoline MISCHEK and Anastasia STERNER will advance to the Preliminary Round. Karoline MISCHEK will face Ines MATOS of Portugal after victories over Camelia Merenco of Moldova and Maja HANSEN of Denmark, only losing to Veronika MATIUNINA of Ukraine.

Sterner will meet Zdena BLASKOVA of Czechia, following her wins against Marina DONNER of Finland and Vitalia REINOL of Estonia.