In a match that stretched to midnight in Leuven, Germany managed to do today what they failed to do yesterday against Scotland and come out on the right side of a 3-2 win. Germany were again found wanting in singles with European Junior Champion, Fabian Roth going down to Lucas Corvee who was deputising for Brice Leverdez.

Corvee did what he had to do taking the first point for the French and Sashina Vignes Waran continued her impressive tournament beating Karin Schnaase. The German had the match in the bag leading 11-1 in the final game but the battling Sashina called on all her reserves of strength to come back and win against the odds.

“I knew when I was 11-1 down in that final game that I still had it in me to win. I have great belief in my game and my physical condition and I think Karin just ran out of steam in the end”

Germany came right back at the French to take the men’s doubles thanks to newly crowned German national champions Max Schwenger and Josche Zurwonne. The German’s have been a breath of fresh air in this tournament and have become a mainstay of Germany’s assault on a medal.

“That was the first time we beat this French pair (Labar & Careme) and it is a great feeling to give Germany the point we needed to get the match back on track” said Schwenger

The Germans completed the comeback taking the women’s doubles before Fuchs & Michels did what they failed to do yesterday and win the final mixed doubles to land Germany yet another European team medal.

“It was important for us to put in a solid meaningful performance today to make up for the disappointment of losing yesterday” said Fuchs. “We know we have come here understrength without many key players but we have proven once again that out team spirit is as strong as ever”



England outsmart the Dutch

England look to be going from strength to strength in the tournament and judging by today’s victory over The Netherlands are the main threat to Denmark for the title.

Chris & Gabby Adcock outplayed Jacco Arends and Selena Piek in the opening mixed doubles which proved to be the catalyst for England to completely over power the Dutch. Eric Pang proved no match for Mr England, Rajiv Ouseph with only light in a dark Dutch tunnel being the fighting performance of Soraya DeVisch Eijbergen beating Fontaine Chapman in three games.

Even Arends and Maas, who have looked unstoppable this week, were no match for Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge. The Dutch did manage to take the middle game but in the end the English guaranteed themselves at least a bronze medal with a three game win.

“It was nice to get out and lead from the front today and we coped well with the Dutch as we learned a lot from them from our meeting at the French Open last year” said Gabby Adcock.

Denmark continued on their merry way beating Ireland but not without a spirited Irish fight. The Irish had opportunities in the opening mixed where Sam and Chloe Magee pushed Fischer and Pedersen hard in two games and all look good for Ireland when Scott Evans took the opening game against Jan Ø. Jørgensen.

Jørgensen bounced back to take the match in three games but Chloe Magee put the cat amongst the pigeons beating Line Kjaersfeldt to crown what was historic week for the Irish. Denmark took the men’s doubles to continue their run towards yet another European team gold and now play Germany in a repeat of the 2013 final in Russia.

Russia make up the semi-final quartet after the inspired selection of Ivanov and the exciting young talent of Kosetskaya at mixed doubles. The Russians never looked back after taking the opening mixed doubles with only Kirsty Gilmour able to repeat her form of yesterday’s victory over the Germans. The Russians won comfortably 3-1 to set up a semi-final against England.

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For all quarter final results click HERE

Article by Mark Phelan (Live in Leuven)