What a day we had in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday at the World Teqball Championships 2024. The rain stayed away so everything went according to plan, except for two world champions.

Due to the heavy rain on Wednesday afternoon and night, FITEQ had to reorganize the program for the World Teqball Championships 2024. Most of the games scheduled for the opening day were successfully played in the men’s singles, however, some questions remained open. Two of them answered thrillingly: in Group E,  Daniel Macovei (MDA) outdueled Lukas Flaks in three sets, and the deciding period went into overtime (13:11), so the Czech player lost both of his matches in three sets, thus finishing last in his group. Almost the same happened in Group F, where Milan Zsibok (CAN) edged out Martin Biros (SVK) in three sets (with the third going to overtime), securing a spot in the Round of 32.

Among the contenders, only Nikola Mitro lost a set (against Ali Jalil Mezher Alelayawi) in the Round of 32, but that was the last one he did not win on Thursday. After that he went on a roll, eliminating Nilson Fernando Castaneda Vargas (COL) in the Round of 16, then collected his biggest scalp by bouncing his friend, three-time singles world champion Adam Blazsovics (HUN). By advancing to the semifinals, he made history as the first individual Serbian medallist. Obviously, he was thrilled after the game:

“Because of the new rules, I’m the first medallist in singles for Serbia, but Bogdan [Marojevic] played two semifinals before. For me, it is going to be the first semifinals in this category at an international tournament, so I’m really happy, not only for myself but for my family, friends, Bogdan, Dimitar, our team, and all the Balkan. I think I have a chance against Adrian [Duszak], Bogdan lost against him four times at World Teqball Championships, and he is the favourite, but we will see. I will give my best for sure, and I have nothing to lose. I have mixed feelings though, because Adam is my best friend besides Bogdan and the Montenegrin guys, it would have been better if we met later. For me, he is the best singles player in the history of teqball.”

Speaking of the defending champion, Adrian Duszak kept his immaculate record throughout the knockout rounds, but he had to play to his maximum against Brazilian Matheus Ferraz in the quarterfinals, which was probably the most electric and tense match on Thursday.

On the other bracket, last year’s runner-up Apor Gyorgydeak (ROU) proved why he is considered to be the favourite as he hammered Alexander Hamm (AUT), Ahmad Arabi (Lebanon) and 2023 bronze-medallist Hugo Rabeux (FRA) on his way to the semifinals. He will compete with Boonkoom Tipwong (THA) for the gold medal game, who not only knocked out Zsibok, Jun Ming Zhang (CHN), and Tunisian Yassine Sahli (who previously survived two three-setters) without dropping a set but showcased his spectacular bicycle-kicks that received a huge ovation from the grandstand.

Boonkoom Tipwong with the famous bicycle-kick.

Then the women’s singles category commenced with the reorganized schedule, meaning there was no group phase. Title-holder Rafaella Fontes dominated her way to the semis, not allowing more than 10 points in any set. Last year’s runner-up Jutatip Kuntatong (THA) did the exact same thing, finishing off Qimcy Dsouza (IND), Aidana Otorbaeva (KGZ) and Elena Kapustyanova (RTA), respectively. In the semis, she will face Paulina Lezak, who had the busiest day of all athletes, playing 3 consecutive three-setters. In the last one, she eliminated 2021 world champion Anna Izsak (HUN), who defeated her in the final in Gliwice. Fontes continues her quest to defend her throne against European champion Kinga Barabasi (ROU), who made it look easy against Kindall Kaufmann (USA) and Angelina Atanasova (BUL), but needed her best shape versus Amelie Julian (FRA) to advance to the top 4.

“I do not feel any pressure, I spent the whole year practising for this tournament. I am here for the love of this sport, to have fun and to get another gold medal. On Friday I will try to get some rest and help my teammates in doubles with whatever they need” - said Fontes after defeating Viorica Tonu (MDA) in the quarterfinal.

“It was a fantastic day! Also, very tough, the opponents’ level rises from tournament to tournament, and it gets higher and higher. I don’t like to be bored on the court and I like to entertain my staff and the fans. Okay, just kidding, but tomorrow I will support my friends and also will do some swimming. I never played against Kuntatong before, so I don’t know what to expect, but I will do my best” - said Lezak after reaching the semifinals.

Paulina Lezak entertained herself with three OT triumps.

Friday is going to be a busy one as the doubles take the stage. Women's doubles start at noon with marquee matchups as Mara D’Alessandro/Eleonora Cunsolo (ITA) try to upset contenders Ester Viana Mendes/Vania Moraes da Cruz (BRA). Nanna Lind Kristensen/Mira Faeno Dahlmann (DEN) against Adriana Kecerova/Timotea Jarosova (SVK) could be another close derby, just like Ana Marques/Carla Couto (POR) versus Iryna Dubytska/Daria Zelenska (UKR). Defending champs Jutatip Kuntatong/Suphawadi Wongkhamchan (THA) could face the winner of that battle, while Hungarians Krisztina Acs/Petra Pechy are in the lower bracket with the potential to meet the Brazilians in the semifinals.

After a short break, the men’s doubles will take place, where all the contenders enjoy a bye in the first round. Reigning world champions Csaba Banyik/Balazs Katz (HUN) are in the same bracket as their opponents in the Bangkok final, Ferraz/Rodrigo Bento Medeiros and another contender unit, Duszak/Marek Pokwap. The lower bracket features Thais Jirati Chanliang/Sorrasak Thaosiri, Mathias Landen Jeppesen/Brian Mengel Thomsen (DEN) and Hunor Kristaly/Arnold Szilagyi (ROU), just to name a few duos that want to stand on the podium.

If this amount of action is not enough, the night will belong to the mixed doubles, the most unpredictable category. 2023 winners Wongkhamchan/Phakpong Dejaroen can meet 2019 bronze-medallists Maja Umicevic/Mitro in the quarterfinals, but first, the Serbians have to move Silvia Ferrer Garcia/Adrian Delgado (ESP) out of their way in the Round of 32. The aforementioned teams share this bracket with other contenders like Barabasi/Gyorgydeak, Alicja Bartnicka/Pokwap, Tonu/Macovei, but the upper one seems equally strong with the likes of Acs/Katz, Maria Chedid/Arabi, Julien/Rabeux and three-time silver-medallists Moraes da Cruz/Leonardo Lindoso de Almeida.

Tune to TEQ TV on YouTube, because you do not want to miss these heavyweight bouts.