UPDATE The Romanian women's national team, qualified with emotions in the “quarters” of the European Team Championship, 3-2 with Serbia, the men's team, categorically, 3-0, with the same opponent

UPDATE: Romania's men's team, in the “quarters”

The Romanian men's national team decisively won the round of 16 duel with Serbia, 3-0, qualifying among the top eight at the European Championship in Croatia. Iulian Chiriță opened the match scoring, winning in three sets, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8, against Dimitrije Levajac (European No. 91). Then, Eduard Ionescu made 2-0 on the table, after 11-6, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9 with Zsolt Pete (172nd place), and Ovidiu Ionescu closed the match, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8 with Nemanja Dilas (343rd place).

The women's national team of Romania faced that of Serbia in the round of 16 of the European Team Championship in Croatia, from Zadar. For a place in the semi-finals, they will face the winner of the Slovakia-Croatia dispute.

Romania – Serbia 0-1, Andreea Dragoman conceded at the limit in the 1st match

The first came to the table Andrea Dragoman (25 years old, 22nd place in the European ranking), who faced the left-hander Sabina Surjan (25 years old, world number 125). The two provided a passionate, very close duel that needed five sets to be decided.

Sets one and two were split between the combatants with the same score, 11-5Dragoman winning the first, Surjan the next. Things evolved almost similarly in acts 3 and 4, the Romanian also passed in front, after 11-7Serbian equaling one 11-6 authoritative.

The deciding set had a history of its own, with Andreea Dragoman being in the lead for most of the time and looking like she would be able to prevail. He also had five points in front, 8-3, but as the end of the line approached, the opponent was more accurate: he equalized from 9-5 in favor of the “tricolor”, then prevailed, 12-10.

Romania – Serbia 1-1, Bernadette Szocs clearly wins after a lost first set

In the next match they faced each other Bernadette Szocs (30 years, 2nd place in the European ranking and 16th in the world ranking) and Aneta Maksuti (29 years old). The latter controlled the first act, imposing herself with 11-6but Berni came back determined and equalized with one 11-4 blunt.

Bernadette Szocs after a successful point PHOTO ETTU

He continued in the same manner, 11-4 in the third set, then 11-8bringing balance to the general.

Romania – Serbia 1-2, Eliza Samara succumbs dramatically

For the third game, they were face to face Elizabeth Samara (36 years old, 6th place in the European ranking, 32nd place in the world ranking) and Izabela Lupulescu (25 years old, world number 82).

Elizabeta Samara at work Photo: ETTU

Eliza broke through with her aggressive shots after a heated first set, 13-11but the opponent equalized, 11-8coming back from 5-2 for the veteran “tricolor”. In the third part of the duel, the Serbian's errors multiplied, while Samara served disturbingly and prevailed, 11-5.

It would be decisive, however, Lupulesku snatching with 13-11 fourth act though Samara had a very good comeback from 5-9 to 9-9. The player from Serbia reversed the score of set 2 and with 11-5 ended the dispute in her favor, raising her team to 2-1 in the overall score.

Romania – Serbia 2-2, Bernadete Szocs prevails again

The fourth match pitted them against Bernadette Szocs and Sabina Surjan. It was the shortest match, won by the Romanian in three close sets, 11-9, 13-11, 11-9. The Romanian showed her superior class when needed, in the hot moments at the end of each act.

Romania – Serbia 3-2, Andreea Dragoman scores the winning point

Andreea Dragoman in action Photo: ETTU

The team qualified for the quarter-finals was to be determined after the fifth duel, the one between Andreea Dragoman and Aneta Maksuti. “Tricolora” put on its inaugural set with 11-8the opponent responded with an act awarded with an identical score.

“Tricolora” then accelerated with an act of 11-4 categorical. In the next part of the encounter, he had match point at 10-9, but eventually surrendered the set, 10-12. It was a round of 16 finish with a dose of drama: Dragoman won in the decisive set, 11-6.

In the quarter-finals, the tricolor representative will meet the winner of the Slovakia-Croatia duel.

Romania, the main favourite, had climbed the table after winning Group A, beating Wales 3-0 and Luxembourg 3-1.

Coaches Andrei Filimon and Ionuț Seni relied on Adina Diaconu and Andreea Dragoman, playing in both matches, while Bernadette Szocs entered only with Luxembourg and Eliza Samara only with Wales.

At the last five editions of the European Team Championship, Romania won two gold (2017, 2019) and three silver (2015, 2021, 2023) awards.