In the semifinals, the Upper Austrian and the Romanian won against the Serbians Izabela Lupulesku/Sabina Surjan 3:2 (-10.4.5, -5.3). Maciej Kolodziejczyk won another ÖTTV medal with Moldovan Wladimir Ursu, namely double bronze. In the semifinals, the qualifiers Alexis and Felix Lebrun (FRA) lost 0:3 (-5,-9,-3).
In the final scheduled for Sunday (3:30 p.m.), Szöcs/Polcanova will face the Czech-Slovak duo Hana Matelova/Barbora Balazova. After winning mixed silver on Friday evening alongside her compatriot Robert Gardos, Polcanova is definitely guaranteed at least another silver medal. There is also the chance of an individual podium place, which is up for grabs in the quarter-finals against the German Sabine Winter in the early evening. In the round of 16, Polcanova defeated Sweden’s Christina Källberg 4-0 (8,4,9,10).
Bild: (APA/EVA MANHART)
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Bild: (APA/EVA MANHART)
Szöcs/Polcanova dominated the doubles quarter-finals against Maria Xiao/Adian Diaconu (ESP/ROU) 3-0 (7,13,9). The individual quarterfinals are Polcanova’s 13th match at these European Championships. Of the first dozen, she only lost in the mixed final. In the first set of the double semi-finals, she and Szöcs missed set points, meaning that Lupulesku/Surjan had not lost a set in the tournament up to that point. Szöcs/Polcanova lost the fourth round after taking a 4-2 lead. However, they had more stamina in the deciding sentence.
Kolodziejczyk/Ursu secured the medal with a 3-0 (9,14,10) win against the Slovenian Peter Hribar/Deni Kozul. According to the Austrian, it was not so easy to maintain concentration in preparation for the game against the Lebruns because of winning the medal. “But then we were able to play our tactics, but they played back very quickly and only made two or three slight mistakes. You’re passive the whole time.” His parents came for the semifinals. “I think success gives me self-confidence in singles as well,” he is certain.
The Lebrun brothers, Olympic bronze medalists in Paris, will meet the Swedes Anton Källberg/Truls Möregardh in the final on Sunday. This quartet was also involved in the individual quarter-finals on Saturday evening, in which Källbergs duel with Möregardh. Otherwise four Germans made it to the last eight. In addition to defending champion Dang Qiu, Patrick Franziska, Benedikt Duda and Dimitrij Ovtcharov also advanced to the round of the last eight.
