The quarterfinals in sunny Slovenia at the 2021 European U17 Championships cut the fields in half. Tomorrow the final four in each category will fight for the right to compete in Sunday's final. Here is how it played out.
Men's singles
Alex Lanier came through a must-watch thriller against Russia's Daniil Dubovenko to once again step onto the European U17 podium. He was the European U15 Champion in 2018 and will face the 2020 Champion in Sweden's left-handed Romeo Makboul.
France's hopes of an all-French final were dashed by Dane Willam Bogebjerg who worked his way onto the podium. To go one step further he will need to find a way past a resilient Belgian, second seed Charles Fouyn.
Alex Lanier (FRA) (1) vs Romeo Makboul (SWE)
Willam Bogebjerg (DEN) vs Charles Fouyn (BEL) (2)
Women's singles
Bronze medallist in her home country two years ago, Joanna Podedworny of Poland continues to show why she is the top seed. In a hotly anticipated semifinal she will face Yevheniia Kantemyr. They faced twice already this year in Poland, each time it went the distance. The head to head is 1-1, the decider gets into the final!
Another talented Ukrainian also finds herself amongst the medals, Sofiia Lavrova. She will face the dynamic second seeded Bulgarian, Kaloyana Nalbantova.
Joanna Podedworny (POL) (1) vs Yevheniia Kantemyr (UKR) (3)
Sofiia Lavrova (UKR) vs Kaloyana Nalbantova (BUL) (2)
Men's doubles
The French top seeds Labarthe/ Lanier did the business and secured themselves a medal. They now face the challenge of the unseeded but dangerous Danes.
In the other semifinal, Dubovenko, bronze medallist last time, still lurks for a potential revenge against Lanier. Together with Stepakov they will take on the passionate second-seeded Turks.
Baptiste Labarthe/ Alex Lanier (FRA) (1) vs Jonathan Melgaard/ Mike Vestergaard (DEN)
Daniil Dubovenko/ Gleb Stepakov (RUS) (3) vs Anil Ulac Atan/ Mirac Kantar (TUR) (2)
Women's doubles
The sensational run from the Belarusian-Romanian scratch pair Polina Karmalys/ Anamaria Serban as they lost to Russians Maria Lezzhova/ Galina Mezentseva. The sixth seeds will now face the French pair who impressed in the team event.
The Stoeva sisters-inspired Bulgarian pair of Kaloyana Nalbantova/ Tsvetina Popivanova snuck into the semifinal and celebrated with a flashy handshake (check out our Instagram). They now have the big task in taking on the Russian second seeds.
Maria Lezzhova/ Galina Mezentseva (RUS) (6) vs Malya Hoareau/ Camille Pognante (FRA) (5)
Kaloyana Nalbantova/ Tsvetina Popivanova (BUL) (7) vs Daria Kharlampovich/ Galina Lisochkina (RUS) (2)
Mixed doubles
Top seeds Yevhenii Stolovoi/ Yevheniia Kantemyr had a bit of a scare against Spaniards Franco/ Paya, but live to fight another day. They will take on the Serbian pair with a great story. Petrovic has only just come back from a bone break and is on the podium after just 10 days preparation.
England have their traditional medal through Oliver Butler/ Chloe Dennis who knocked out the fourth seeds. They now face a strong Danish pair to get into the final.
Yevhenii Stolovoi/ Yevheniia Kantemyr (UKR) (1) vs Viktor Petrovic/ Andjela Vitman (SRB) (5)
Oliver Butler/ Chloe Dennis (ENG) vs Jonathan Melgaard/ Maria Hojlund Tommerup (DEN)
Watch all the semifinal action live!