Green and Baldwin notch victories at European U21 Championships

Connor Green and Mari Baldwin both recovered from 2-0 down to beat higher-ranked opponents at the European Under-21 Championships in Skopje.

Baldwin, ranked 41 of the 56 players competing, started with a remarkable tie against No 18 Leah Tveit Muskantor of Sweden, fighting hard to stay in the match, especially in a pivotal third game, before winning 3-2 (7-11, 7-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-8).

She went on to beat Bulgaria’s Sidelya Mutlu before losing her final group match to No 23 Sara Devos of Belgium.

That put her into a group with the No 1 seed, Hana Arapovic of Croatia in the second stage and she was defeated in five games in that clash – the matches are best of seven at that stage.

She was then defeated by Sweden’s Matilda Hansson (No 37) and finishes her group today with a match against Anastasia Sterner of Austria (No 31).

Green won all three of his group matches in the first stage, including coming from 2-0 down to beat Daniel Kogans of Latvia, who is ranked three above Green at No 19 of the 56 competitors.

In the second stage, Green was narrowly defeated by No 7 seed Thibault Poret of France, going all the way to a deciding seventh.

He was then beaten by Daniel Berzosa of Spain (No 34) and finishes with a match today against No 13-ranked Tommaso Giovannetti of Italy.

Green, partnering Wim Verdonschot of Germany in the Men’s Doubles, won through the first round to set up a tie against No 1 seeds Hugo Deschamps & Thibault Poret (FRA) in the last 16 on Friday.

In the Mixed Doubles, Green & Ainhoa Cristobal of Spain won their first-round match but then ran into eighth seeds Hugo Deschamps & Leana Hochart from France and went out in the last 32

Baldwin & Filip Delincak (SVK) were beaten in a close five-setter by Gabrielius Camara & Emine Ernst (NED), despite leading 2-0 after taking the second 19-17.

In the Women’s Doubles, Baldwin & Hannah Silcock of Jersey went out in the first round to higher-ranked Leana Hochart & Elise Pujol of France.

Results

Men’s Singles
Group 11
Connor Green bt Ivan Hencl (CRO) 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-6)
Green bt Daniels Kogans (LAT) 3-2 (7-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5)
Green bt Brin Vovk Petrovski (SLO) 3-1 (11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7)

Group G
Thibault Poret (FRA) bt Connor Green 4-3 (11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3)
Daniel Berzosa (ESP) bt Green 4-1 (11-9, 11-8, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7)

Women’s Singles
Group 10
Mari Baldwin bt Leah Tveit Muskantor (SWE) 3-2 (7-11, 7-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-8)
Baldwin bt Sidelya Mutlu (BUL) 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 13-11)
Sara Devos (BEL) bt Baldwin 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 13-11)

Group A
Hana Arapovic (CRO) bt Mari Baldwin 4-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7, 11-3)
Matilda Hansson (SWE) bt Baldwin 4-1 (11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5)

Mixed Doubles
Round of 64
Connor Green & Ainhoa Cristobal (ESP) bt Mateusz Zelengowski & Ilona Sztwiertnia (POL) 3-1 (11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7)
Gabrielius Camara & Emine Ernst (NED) bt Filip Delincak (SVK) & Mari Baldwin 3-2 (9-11, 17-19, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7)

Round of 32
Hugo Deschamps & Leana Hochart (FRA) bt Green & Cristobal 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-5)

Men’s Doubles
Round of 32
Connor Green & Wim Verdonschot (GER) bt Stoyan Sariev (BUL) & Hakan Isik (TUR) 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-6)

Women’s Doubles
Round of 32
Leana Hochart & Elise Pujol (FRA) bt Mari Baldwin & Hannah Silcock (JEY) 3-0 (11-7, 14-12, 11-7)

Green and Baldwin notch victories at European U21 Championships Table Tennis England.