Romania's men's national team, HUGE victory at the European Team Championship! » Knocked out defending champions Sweden, 3-2, to medal

The Romanian men's national team faced the 1st favorite and the defending champion, Sweden, in the quarter-finals of the European Team Championship in Zadar. And he defeated her superbly, dramatically, gloriously, 3-2with the victory of Eduard Ionescu in the last match. The boys had not been on the European podium since 2009, when they won the bronze medal. The one they secured now, by qualifying in the penultimate act!

The “tricolors” advanced to the quarter-finals after a clear 3-0 victory over Serbia. However, they had in front of them an opponent of a much higher caliber, whom they brought to their knees. Step by step.

Romania – Sweden 0-1, Eduard Ionescu took a set from the world number 17

The young man was the first at the table Eduard Ionescu (20 years old, number 50 in the world ranking), facing the Anton Kallberg (28 years old, 17th place in the world). Emotions pressed the start of the match, the first set, a lightning one, being won by the Swede with 11-3.

However, things changed visibly in the second act, which also belonged to the Nordic, but with 11-7while Edi was getting better and better in the match. He showed fighting spirit in the third part of the match when he returned from two match points for Karllberg, 8-10, and bravely prevailed with 16-14.

However, he did not last until the end in front of the more experienced opponent, Olympic vice-champion with the team in Paris 2024 and European champion in 2023, also with the team. The Swede closed the match with one 11-7.

Romania – Sweden 1-1, Iulian Chiriță, collection victory

Iulian Chiriță in action in the CE team “quarters” Photo: ETTU

Then came his turn Iulian Chiriță (70th place in the world), who met him Kristian Karlsson (34 years old, world number 47). How courageously the Romanian player evolved from the first shots! He led permanently in the first set, after 0-1, being tied only once, at 5, then prevailed with 11-7.

The opponent equalized after 11-8 in the second act, however, Iulian came back faster and more determined, snatching the 3rd set with 11-5 before the Swede found solutions. The Romanian also dominated in the fourth – and last – part of the duel, up to 10-9.

Then a dose of tension appeared, a few exchanges shared between the two, but Chiriță found the necessary dose of lucidity, initialing with 13-11 the act and the victory that brought Romania on par with the titular European champion.

Romania – Sweden 2-1, Ovidiu Ionescu imposed his experience

For the third clash it was the turn of the experienced Ovidiu Ionescu (36 years old, ranked 117th in the world), the continental singles runner-up in 2018 and the world doubles champion in 2019. He met Elias Ranefur (world number 115).

Ovidiu Ionescu in action Photo: ETTU

Ovidiu won with 14-12 a first set in which he trailed most of the time, except for the first sequences. He was led by the most distant three points, but showed strength, found the inspired shots and prevailed.

The opponent initialed the second act, 11-7with an inspired sprint from 8-7, after until then the two had alternated in the lead.

Ionescu launched himself hungry for points in the third part, moving away without obstacles until 6-0. Only then did Ranefur react, who came close to 9-10, but could not prevent the outcome, 11-9 for “tricolor”.

He also dominated the 4th set, accompanying each point with a loud cry of release. 11-6 and Romania was ahead, 2-1!

Romania – Sweden 2-2, Iulian Chiriță, defeat in a big fight

In the next matchup, Anton Kallberg he didn't waste much time in the opening act against him Iulian Chiriță, 11-2just as he had done with Eduard Ionescu at the beginning of the meeting. From the second part of the match, however, the picture changed, the northerner imposing himself with 11-9.

And from there Chiriță metamorphosed into the fiercer player, coming back from 1-3 to 6-4, once again from 7-8 to 11-9 to seal the third act.

With his eyes narrowed in attention and the thin headband holding his bangs, Iulian put together an excellently controlled fourth set, 11-7. And a tie, who would have thought, as the match had started? But the Swede concentrated in the decider and started strong, 5-1. Even if the “tricolor” recovered up to 8-10, it could not prevent the outcome, 11-8 and victory for the Swede, this establishing the balance of the overall score, 2-2.

Romania – Sweden 3-2, Edi Ionescu's HUGE victory!

From now on, everything remains in his palette, wrist and eyes Eduard Ionescuthe one who faced the Kristian Karlsson in the decisive match. And the young Romanian player approached the important duel with great aplomb. Accompanying each point with a shout, he won the first set, 11-9.

Eduard Ionescu in action Photo: ETTU

Karlsson sensed the danger and changed something, quickly putting his second act into account, with 11-4. Edi fought and led much of the next period, but the Swede pressed starting from 6-8 and snatching the set with 12-10.

But it couldn't be more dramatic than that! Ionescu the younger forced the decider, after a brave set, 11-9in which he stopped the opponent's comeback from 6-10 to 9-10 in time. And in the decider he held his nerve magnificently, one more 11-9 in front of the experienced opponent! 3-2 and Romania is in the semifinals of the European Team Championship, having secured the medal!