Benedikt Duda surprises at EM: Only one sentence separates him from the title!

Benedikt Duda surprises at EM: Only one sentence separates him from the title!

Linz, Österreich - Linz was the scene of a remarkable performance when the German table tennis professional Benedikt Duda took part in the European Championships. The 30-year-old, who plays for the TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt, caused a sensation by fighting to the final, where he was lost 0: 4 to the Frenchman Alexis Lebrun. Duda himself regretted the quick outcome: "Unfortunately, that was very quick," he said after the game.

his way to the final was anything but uninteresting. Already in the semifinals he managed to throw Felix Lebrun, the younger brother of the final opponent and one of the favorites, 4: 3 out of the competition. Duda also prevailed against the experienced Dimitrij Ovtcharov, once number 1 in the world rankings, by winning 4: 2. "Benne played phenomenally," said Ovtcharov, making it clear how surprising Duda's appearances were.

insights into Duda's career

In the past, Duda was one of the successful German teams that completed the European Championship and in 2022 in 2021 with silver medals. However, this final is the greatest success of its individual performance so far. "I am very proud of myself. I would have liked to take one more step more. But Alexis was too strong for that," said Duda confidently after the game.

national coach Jörg Roßkopf, who has always promoted Duda, sees him many characteristics that remind him of his own success. Even if Duda is not the talent of the century like Timo Boll, he is still a hard -working athlete who is characterized by training and concentration. Duda admitted that he hadn't expected it to get so far: "Of course not! I was injured for a long time. But ten days before the European Championship I felt very good in training."

The outcome of the tournament, however, marks a change process in German table tennis. After the disappointing Olympic year 2024, Dudas Triumph shows that German dominance is disappearing in table tennis. For the first time in 13 tournaments, the European European Champion does not come from Germany. Sweden and France, with promising talents such as Felix and Alexis Lebrun, show up as emerging forces that could shape the future of sport.

The German competitors can look back on a positive EM balance. Nina Mittelham secured the bronze medal in her first competition after a serious injury. A total of four of the six German men made the leap into the quarter-finals and the 18-year-old Annett Kaufmann was also able to look forward to a bronze medal in mixed. "It was a good tournament," commented national coach Tamara Boros satisfied.