Stumper restored German pride and orchestrated the downfall of Belgium, the top seeds.

In the initial group stage, Germany had finished in second place, Belgium in third spot; in the opening round they met. Kay Stumper beat both Alessi Massart (12-10, 11-5, 14-16, 11-8) and Adrien Rassenfosse (11-9, 11-6, 11-8) to prove the backbone of a 3-1 overall success.

Daniel Rinderer added the one further win for Germany – in the third match of the fixture, he accounted for Nicolas Degros (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5). The one win for Belgium was recorded by Adrien Rassenfosse, in the second contest of the engagement, overcoming Hannes Hoermann.

End of the road for the top seeds, it was the same for Russia, the second seeds. Hampered by only being able to field two players, they experienced a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Croatia. Supported by Borna Petek and Lovro Zovko, the star of the show was Ivor Ban.

The 18-year-old beat both Maksim Bokov (11-8, 13-11, 11-7) and Damir Akhmetsafin (11-7, 11-6, 12-10). Akhmetsafin overcame Lovro Zovko (0-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6) to record the sole Russian win.

Poland and Romania excel

Impressive from Croatia and Germany, likewise Poland and Romania excelled.

Poland, the no.4 seeds, progressed as anticipated. Represented by Maciej Kubik, Samuel Kulczycki and Milosz Redzimski, a 3-0 first round win was posted against Norway’s Borgar Haug, Noah Hovdenak and Alexander Fransson.

Somewhat differently, the Romania trio comprising Eduard Ionescu, Darius Movileanu and Andrei Teodor Istrate, upset the odds.

Commencing play in level two, they recorded a 3-0 win play-off round win against Denmark’s Patrick Skarsholm, Theo Dyekjaer and Matias Larsen, before in the opening round, repeating the performance in opposition to Portugal’s Tiago Li, Gonçalo Gomez and David Bessa.

Leading outfits progress

Problems for the leading outfits in the junior boys’ team event, but not so in the counterpart junior girls’ team event. Russia, Romania, France and Germany, the respective top four seeds, all booked quarter-final places.

Elizabet Abraamian, lining up alongside Natalia Malinina and Liubov Tentser, proved the mainstay of success for Russia in a 3-1 win against Spain’s Eugenia Sastre, Aihhoa Cristobal and Elvira Fiona Rad. She accounted for both Eugenia Sastre (9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-3) and Aihhoa Cristobal (11-8, 11-7, 11-8).

Similarly, it was a 3-1 margin of victory for the German trio of Sophia Klee, Anastasia Bondareva and Naomi Pranjkovic against Ukraine’s Anastasiya Dymytrenko, Iolanta Yevtodii and Alina Vydruchenko. Proving the backbone of the win was Anastasia Bondareva as she overcame Iolanta Yevtodii (11-8, 11-6, 11-5) and Anastasiya Dymytrenko (11-5, 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8).

More comprehensive

Commanding wins, it was even more comprehensive from the Romanian outfit comprising Ioana Singeorzan, Elena Zaharia and Luciana Mitrofan.

They recorded a 3-0 opening round win against Norway’s Martine Toftaker, Hanna Hovden and Christine Kalvatin, a result which the French trio formed by Isa Cok, Camille Lutz and Charlotte Lutz emulated. They maintained an unblemished record when facing Croatia’s Hana Arapovic, Janja Matijasec and Zara Ilic.

Play in the quarter and semi-finals of both the junior boys’ team and junior girls’ team events will be played on Tuesday 20th July.

Gazprom 2021 European Youth Championships results