The men’s singles podium in Warsaw (left to right) Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Timo Boll, Marcos Freitas and Mattias Falck (Photo: Bogdan Pasek)
Timo Boll won the men’s singles title at the Liebherr 2020 European Championships in the Polish capital city of Warsaw on Sunday 27th June, thus claiming the coveted crown for a record eighth time, well clear of the field.
The nearest contenders are Sweden’s Mikael Appelgren who won three times succeeding in 1982, 1988 and 1990, alongside Vladimir Samsonov who prevailed in 1998, 2003 and 2005.
Moreover, Germany collected four of the five titles on offer, the greatest success ever by a nation in the history of the event. The men’s doubles proved elusive, ironically, the only event in which, represented by Benedikt Duda and Qiu Dang, they occupied the top seeded spot!
Maksim Grebnev and Lev Katsman emerged the men’s doubles winners, the first time a Russian pair has ever won the event.
Petrissa Solja emerged the most successful player. She won the women’s singles title, after partnering Shan Xiaona to women’s doubles success.
Earlier on the fourth day of play, the mixed doubles had been won by Qiu Dang and Nina Mittelham.
Men’s Singles
SF: Timo Boll (GER) v Mattias Falck 13-11, 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-7
SF: Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) v Marcos Freitas (POR) 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-9
F: Timo Boll (GER) v Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8
Women’s Singles
SF: Shan Xiaona (GER) v Margaryta Pesotska (UKR) 11-6, 11-9, 11-7, 11-4
SF: Petrissa Solja (GER) v Elizabeta Samara (ROU) 11-4, 14-12, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6
F: Petrissa Solja (GER) v Shan Xiaona (GER) 11-7, 11-3, 11-9, 4-11, 11-2
Men’s Doubles
SF: Maksim Grebnev / Lev Katsman (RUS) v Nandor Ecseki / Adam Szudi (HUN) 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 11-7
SF: Jakub Dyjas / Cédric Nuytinck (POL / BEL) v Tiago Apolonia / João Monteiro (POR) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5
F: Maksim Grebnev / Lev Katsman (RUS) v Jakub Dyjas / Cédric Nuytinck (POL / BEL) 12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7
Women’s Doubles
SF: Shan Xiaona / Petrissa Solja (GER) v Stéphanie Loeuillette / Yuan Ji Nan (FRA) 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6
SF: Nina Mittelham / Sabine Winter (GER) v Tetyana Bilenko / Ganna Gaponova (UKR) 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8
F: Shan Xiaona / Petrissa Solja (GER) v Nina Mittelham / Sabine Winter (GER) 7-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8
Mixed Doubles
SF: Lubomir Pistej / Barbora Balazova (SVK) v Simon Gauzy / Prithika Pavade (FRA) 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 13-11, 11-4
SF: Qiu Dang / Nina Mittelham (GER) v Emmanuel Lebesson / Stéphanie Loeuillette / Yuan Ji Nan (14-12, 11-7, 4-11, 5-11, 13-11)
F: Qiu Dang / Nina Mittelham (GER) v Lubomir Pistej / Barbora Balazova (SVK) 11-9, 11-8, 11-6