At the final hurdle they accounted for the combination formed by the Czech Republic’s Martin Sip and Ukraine’s Veronika Matiunina (11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7), having at the semi-final stage ousted Germany’s Lleyton Ullmann and Annett Kaufmann (11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7).

In the counterpart penultimate round contest, Martin Sip and Ukraine’s Veronika Matiunina had overcome the Belarus partnership formed by Nikon Shutov and Veranika Varabyova (8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9).

Reached last eight

Medallists known, in each of the boys’ singles and girls’ singles events, matters have advanced to the last eight.

Good mixed doubles form, Milosz Redzimski, the no.3 seed, duly booked a quarter-final boys’ singles place as did the respective top two names, Romania’s Iulian Chirita and Frenchman Felix Lebrun. In a similar vein, Dragos Alexandru Bujor, the no.5 seed and like Iulian Chirita, from Romania, progressed.

The remaining names were not as anticipated. In round four Belgium’s Tom Closset overcame Hungary’s David Szantosi, the no.6 seed (11-8, 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-2), Romania’s Horia Stefan Ursut ended the progress of Spain’s Daniel Berzosa, the no.4 seed (12-10, 13-11, 12-10, 14-12).

Similarly, in the same round Nikon Shutov of Belarus ended the hopes of Austria’s Julian Rzihauschek (11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9), the second round winner in opposition to Sweden’s David Bjorkryd, the no.8 seed (11-9, 10-12, 13-15, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10).

Impressively, one round earlier, Russia’s Aleksei Samokhin had beaten the Czech Republic’s Martin Sip (5-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8), prior to ousting Poland’s Alan Kulczycki (8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4).

Stand out French performances

Casualties en route to the quarter-finals, it was the same in the girls’ singles; Germany’s Annett Kaufmann, the no.2 seed, Ireland’s Sophie Earley, the no.4 seed and Russia’s Anastasiia Ivanova, the no.8 seed advanced, but they were very much alone amongst the leading names.

France excelled. Agathe Anne Avezou beat Anna Hursey of Wales, the top seed (12-10, 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8), prior to ousting Poland’s Zofia Sliwka (11-7, 11-8, 11-4, 11-4) to reserve her quarter-final place.

Likewise, colleagues Clea de Stoppeleire and Gaetane Bled progressed.

Clea de Stoppeleire claimed her last eight place by overcoming Poland’s Natalia Bogdanowicz in a quite titanic fourth round duel (11-6, 11-4, 11-3, 9-11, 10-12, 7-11, 17-15). Natalia Bogdanowicz was in form, in the previous round she had defeated Veronika Varabyova of Belarus, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-8, 13-11, 11-4).

Hard fought success for Clea de Stoppeleire, it was the same for Gaetane Bled, but no so dramatic. In round three she beat Slovakia’s Dominika Wiltschkova, the no.5 seed (10-12, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4), prior to ousting Slovenia’s Sara Tokic (11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 6-11, 12-10).

Success against the odds for France, it was the same for Ukraine in the guise of Veronika Matiunina and for Portugal represented by Matilde Pinto. In the fourth round, Veronika Matiunina beat Germany’s Mia Griesel, the no.7 seed (11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8), Matilde Pinto halted the aspirations of Romania’s Bianca Mei Rosu, the no.6 seed (6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6).

Semi-finalists known

Quarter-finalist realized, in the boys’ doubles and girls’ doubles, play has advanced to the semi-final round.

In the boys’ doubles, Iulian Chirita and Dragos Bujor Alexandru meet Daniel Berzosa and Lleyton Ullmann; in the opposite half of the Felix Lebrun and French colleague Falvien Coton oppose Milosz Redzimski and Alan Kulczycki.

Meanwhile, in the girls’ doubles, Anastasiia Ivanova and compatriot Zlata Terekhova confront Ukraine’s Sofiia Sheredeha and Olha Ponko; Annett Kaufmann and Bianca Mei Rosu face Sophie Earley who partners Spain’s Silvia Coll.

Play in Varazdin concludes on Monday 2nd August.