Europe Youth Top-10 | 4 Oct 2024

Europe Youth Top 10 Commences: Tough Times for Top Seeds

The 2024 Europe Youth Top 10 commenced today in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland. Over the next three days, the CAIIS Sports and Entertainment Hall will host Europe’s top youth players as they compete for glory. Right from the start, the tournament has been filled with excitement, with several top seeds facing tough challenges.

You can see the pictures here 

The Under-19 Boys’ singles event delivered several surprising results, as underdogs put up strong resistance against the favorites. Top-seeded Flavien COTON of France held his nerve and overcame Croatia's Leon BENKO in six games. However, the fortunes were reversed for the second and third seeds. Germany's Andre BERTELSMEIER upset Poland's Mateusz ZALEWSKI, while Slovakia's Samuel ARPAS defeated Hungary's David SZANTOSI in the opening round.

After two rounds, BERTELSMEIER was the only player to remain undefeated. Following his victory over the second seed, he added another impressive win to his record by defeating top-seeded Flavien COTON. The French player, a finalist at the European Youth Championships in Malmö earlier this summer, was outplayed by BERTELSMEIER in a thrilling quarterfinal match.

At the end of day one, BERTELSMEIER secured his third win by overcoming Croatia's BENKO. Though he initially struggled in the first game, from the second game onward, it was smooth sailing for the German player.

Both BERZOSA and COTON finished the day on a high, recording victories in their final matches.

• Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany) - Mateusz ZALEWSKI (Poland) 4-2 (6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 11-6)
• Samuel ARPAS (Slovakia) - David SZANTOSI (Hungary) 4-1 (11-9, 11-9, 13-11, 6-11, 12-10)
• Flavien COTON (France) - Leon BENKO (Croatia) 4-2 (4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6)
• Tiago ABIODUN (Portugal) - Daniel BERZOSA (Spain) 4-3  (11-6, 3-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9)
• Dragos BUJOR (Romania) - Tom CLOSSET (Belgium) 4-1, 11-7, 14-12, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8)

Round 2

• Flavien COTON (France) - Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany) 2-4 (10-12, 11-8, 5-11, 11-13, 11-4, 9-11)
• Leon BENKO (Croatia) - Tom CLOSSET (Belgium) 4-3 (9-11, 10-12, 13-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-6, 11-5)
• Daniel BERZOSA (Spain) - Dragos BUJOR (Romania) 4-1 (11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9)
• David SZANTOSI (Hungary) - Tiago ABIODUN (Portugal) 4-2 (8-11, 11-9, 5-11, 13-11, 11-9)
• Mateusz ZALEWSKI (Poland) - Samuel ARPAS (Slovakia) 4-2 (11-9, 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 5-11)

Round 3

• Samuel ARPAS (Slovakia) - Flavien COTON 1-4 (11-7, 3-11, 2-11, 3-11, 4-11)
• Tiago ABIODUN (Portugal) - Mateusz ZALEWSKI (Poland) 4-3 (14-12, 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6)
• Andre BERTELSMEIER (Germany) - Leon BENKO (Croatia) 4-1 (8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2, 11-6)
• Dragos BUJOR (Romania) - David SZANTOSI (Hungary) 3-4 (14-12, 8-11, 9-11. 11-5, 14-12, 10-12, 6-11)
• Tom CLOSSET (Belgium) - Daniel BERZOSA (Spain) 1-4 (11-3, 10-12, 2-11, 4-11, 3-11)

In the Under-19 Girls’ singles, Zuzanna WIELGOS of Poland justified her top seed status by defeating her teammate Natalia BOGDANOWICZ in straight games. Germany's Mia GRIESEL upset the rankings and broke the hearts of home supporters by narrowly defeating Anna BRZYSKA in a thrilling seven-game match. The duel between two French players, Nina GUO ZHENG and Leana HOCHART, also went the full distance, with the lower-ranked Nina securing the victory.

At the end of day one, European Under-21 champion Veronika MATIUNINA preserved her unbeaten status by winning all three of her matches. After defeating PINTO and fourth-seed Mia GRIESEL without dropping a game, she capped her day with a crucial victory over top-seeded Zuzanna WIELGOS.

WIELGOS, despite her earlier dominance, recorded two wins and one defeat, placing her third in the standings after three matches. Another undefeated player is France’s Clea DE STOPPELEIRE, who was pushed to the limit in her final match but managed to overcome her teammate Nina GUO ZHENG in a full-distance battle.

Nina GUO ZHENG and Mia GRIESEL both finished the day with one defeat, keeping them in strong contention for the next rounds.

• Anna BRZYSKA (Poland) – Mia GRIESEL (Germany) 3-4 (5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11)
• Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) - Clea DE STOPPELEIRE (France) 2-4 (11-6, 11-13, 4-11, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11)
• Veronika MATIUNINA (Ukraine) - Matilde PINTO (Portugal) 4-0 (11-9, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7)
• Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) - Natalia BOGDANOWICZ (Poland) 4-0 (11-4, 11-6, 12- 10, 11-7)
• Leana HOCHART (France) - Nina GUO ZHENG (France) 3-4 (11-7, 3-11, 11-3, 4-11, 6-11, 11-8, 10-12)

Round 2

• Natalia BOGDANOWICZ (Poland) - Nina GUO ZHENG (France) 2-4 (9-11, 11-5, 5-11, 6-11, 11-8, 7-11)
• Mia GRIESEL (Germany) - Veronika MATIUNINA (Ukraine) 0-4 (11-13, 9-11, 5-11, 3-11)
• Matilde PINTO (Portugal) - Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) 4-2 (10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9)
• Clea DE STOPPELEIRE (France) - Leana HOCHART (France) 4-0 (13-11, 11-8, 11-9, 16-14)
• Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) - Anna BRZYSKA (Poland) 4-1 (11-9, 14-12, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7)

Round 3

• Veronika MATIUNINA (Ukraine) - Zuzanna WIELGOS (Poland) 4-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6)
• Leana HOCHART (France) - Matilde PINTO (Portugal) 4-2 (11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9)
• Sara TOKIC (Slovenia) - Mia GRIESEL (Germany) 3-4 (9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 10-12, 5-11)
• Anna BRZYSKA (Poland) - Natalia BOGDANOWICZ (Poland) 3-4 (8-11, 11-7, 17-19, 11-8, 11-9, 1-11, 6-11)
• Nina GUO ZHENG (France) - Clea DE STOPPELEIRE (France) 2-4 (6-11, 10-12, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 9-11)

The top seed in the Under-15 Boys’ event, Robert Alexandru ISTRATE of Romania,  struggled as Görkem ÖÇAL of Turkey showed great form and won in straight games. The opening round also featured an exciting all-Polish duel between third-seed Samuel MICHNA and Aleks PAKULA.

After a full seven-game match, fourth-seed MICHNA secured the victory.

In Round 2, ISTRATE's difficulties persisted, as he was defeated by TREVISAN. Meanwhile, FASO secured another victory, and GERGELY caused an upset by beating MICHNA.

Italy's Danilo FASO and Hungary’s Mark GERGELY both recorded three wins on the opening day. FASO secured victories against TREVISAN, SKALDA, and KOKAVEC, while GERGELY defeated KOKAVEC, PAKULA, and MICHNA to complete a perfect start.

• Robert Alexandru ISTRATE (Romania) - Görkem ÖÇAL (Turkiye) 0-4 (7-11, 5-11, 8-11, 7-11)
• Pavol KOKAVEC (Slovakia) - Mark GERGELY (Hungary) 3-4 (5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11)
• Jan SKALDA (Czechia) - Sandro CAVAILLE (France) 1-4 (10-12, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 10-12)
• Francesco TREVISAN (Italy) - Danilo FASO (Italy) 1-4 (6-11, 11-6, 6-11, 7-11, 3-11)
• Samuel MICHNA (Poland) - Aleks PAKULA (Poland) 4-3 (6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 13-15, 11-6)

Round 2

• Robert Alexandru ISTRATE (Romania) – Francesco TREVISAN (Italy) 2-4 (7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 5-11)
• Görkem ÖÇAL (Turkiye) - Aleks PAKULA (Poland) 4-1 (11-9, 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4)
• Sandro CAVAILLE (France) - Pavol KOKAVEC (Slovakia) 4-3 (11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7)
• Danilo FASO (Italy)- Jan SKALDA (Czechia) 4-0 (17-15, 12-10, 11-1, 11-4)
• Mark GERGELY (Hungary) - Samuel MICHNA (Poland) 4-1 (11-6, 14-16, 15-13, 15-13, 11-9)

Round 3

• Samuel MICHNA (Poland) - Sandro CAVAILLE (France) 4-1 (11-5, 4-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7)
• Francesco TREVISAN (Italy) - Görkem ÖÇAL (Turkiye) 4-0 (11-7, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6)
• Pavol KOKAVEC (Slovakia) - Danilo FASO (Italy) 0-4 (1-11, 5-11, 6-11, 4-11)
• Jan SKALDA (Czechia) - Robert Alexandru ISTRATE (Romania) 4-3 (9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8)
• Aleks PAKULA (Poland) - Mark GERGELY (Hungary) 3-4 (11-7, 13-11, 12-10, 8-11, 8-11, 7-11, 9-11)

In the Under-15 Girls’ singles, several upsets occurred. Top-seeded Hanka KODETOVA, a two-time European singles champion and third-place finisher in last year’s Top 10, began the tournament with a surprising defeat. After seven tightly contested games, Romania’s Andreea BAIASU, a reserve player, secured the win.

In an all-Hungarian duel, sixth-seeded Nora DOHOCZKI overcame eighth-seeded Sophie BARCSAI in another full seven-game match.

In Round 2, KODETOVA recovered, though she was pushed to the limit once again. This time, she managed to edge out Lisa-Sophie WANG after a hard-fought battle. ITAGAKI remained unbeaten by defeating LYTVYN, while third-seed Lisa-Sophie WANG is still searching for her first victory.

At the end of day one in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, two players remained undefeated after three rounds. Fourth-seeded Nina SKERBINZ had an impressive day, defeating her teammate Mariia LYTVYN, Poland’s Maja LAKOMA, and Hungary’s Nora DOHOCZKI. Meanwhile, second-seeded ITAGAKI also secured three victories, overcoming WANG, LYTVYN, and LAKOMA to stay unbeaten.

• Hanka KODETOVA (Czechia) - Andreea BAIASU (Romania) 3-4 (10-12, 11-13, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7, 8-11)
• Maja LAKOMA (Poland) - Julia LEAL (Portugal) 0-4 (6-11, 6-11, 5-11, 7-11)
• Mariia LYTVYN (Austria) - Nina SKERBINZ (Austria) 1-4 (11-9, 5-11, 7-11, 8-11, 7-11)
• Lisa-Sophie WANG (Germany) - Koharu ITAGAKI (Germany) 0-4 (3-11, 6-11, 12-14, 4-11)
• Sophie BARCSAI (Hungary) - Nora DOHOCZKI (Hungary) 3-4 (11-3, 7-11, 7-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-4, 5-11)

Round 2

• Nina SKERBINZ (Austria) - Maja LAKOMA (Poland) 4-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-5, 11-4)
• Hanka KODETOVA (Czechia) - Lisa-Sophie WANG (Germany) 4-3 (11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-5)
• Andreea BAIASU (Romania) - Nora DOHOCZKI (Hungary) 0-4 (8-11, 9-11, 8-11, 7-11)
• Koharu ITAGAKI (Germany) - Mariia LYTVYN (Austria) 4-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3, 11-8)
• Julia LEAL (Portugal) - Sophie BARCSAI (Hungary) 2-4 (8-11, 14-12, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 9-11)

Round 3

• Nora DOHOCZKI (Hungary) - Julia LEAL (Portugal) 2-4 (10-12, 11-13, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 4-11)
• Maja LAKOMA (Poland) - Koharu ITAGAKI (Germany) 0-4 (9-11, 7-11, 5-11, 5-11)
• Sophie BARCSAI (Hungary) - Nina SKERBINZ (Austria) 2-4 (11-5, 5-11, 11-9, 5-11, 5-11)
• Mariia LYTVYN (Austria) - Hanka KODETOVA (Czechia) 0-4 6-11, 6-11, 8-11, 6-11)
• Lisa-Sophie WANG (Germany) - Andreea BAIASU (Romania) 4-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-9, 11-2)
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