With close matches, outstanding performances, and big surprises, it was an exciting semifinals day at the 2022 European Junior Championship before the big finals.
Denmark, who have secured eight medals, had a hard task today to get to the final stage. Jeppe Søby/ Sofie Røjkjær faced a French pair who have shown quite the strength in this tournament.
After a comfortable first game for Lucas Renoir/ Tea Margueritte against the Danes, Søby/ Røjkjær upped their game to give a thrilling close ending to a match that still resulted in a win for the French pair, 21-10, 27-25.
Christian Faust Kjær fell to top seed Alex Lanier. The French player will be looking to take over the European Junior men’s singles title which was until this year held by fellow Frenchman Christo Popov. Lanier will be facing Jakob Houe, who he faced in the European U15 Championships four years ago.
France will also have Natan Begga/ Baptiste Labarthe standing on the podium tomorrow, although the pair will not get the chance to play the final. Jakob Houe did not only book a spot in the final in men’s singles, but also in men’s doubles partnered with Christian Faust Kjær, as they defeated the French pair in straight games.
There is another player who will be playing two finals. Lisa Curtin, England, first faced Dane Benedicte Sillassen in a tough 55-minute match. It was a close one between the two players, but Curtin got the win 22-19, 21-20, 21-19. The day was far from over for her, having to play against Emma Irring Braüner/ Sofie Røjkjær for the spot in the final, and the English duo delivered in straight games, 21-17 21-15.
On the other court, as Curtin played her semifinal, Kaloyana Nalbantova, Bulgaria, took on Finland’s Nella Nyqvist for the other spot in the final. Both were strong favourites of the event and gave quite a performance. The two strong players tried their best to win and Nalbantova showed no hesitation in her movements, closing the match with a win with a score of 21-16 21-19.
Hjalte Johansen’s withdrawal meant that there would be two less semifinals, as he was to compete with Emma Irring Braüner in mixed doubles, and with Jeppe Søby in men’s doubles. This meant that Jarne Schelvogt/ Julia Meyer, Germany, and Daniel Franco/ Ruben Garcia, Spain, would be moving forward to the finals without playing their matches today.