Fans have grown accustomed to seeing Germany claim the Europe Top 16 Cup. While that tradition was maintained, it was not the usual suspects at work. While Germany's Petrissa Solja had won the previous two women's singles titles, Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Timo Boll took the last two for the menfolk. None of the aforementioned was on duty, however, at the 2021 Pomegranate Europe Top 16 Cup, held September 18-19 in Thessaloniki, Greece. In the women's singles, fifth-seeded Nina Mittelham (pictured) beat Portugal’s penholder Fu Yu in the final, 4-1. It was not only Mittelham's first title at the at the event, but at any major European tournament. Consequently, she jumped from world #43 to #31. "This victory is so important for me," confessed Mittelham. "For some time I am always close, but now I finally won the title. It means so much to me for the future and for the European Championships. Fu was strong today, but I felt very well and I had full control." Meanwhile, over in the men's draw, Mittelham's countryman Patrick Franziska also overcame a Portuguese opponent, 4-1, in the form of lefty Marcos Freitas. Like Mittelham, the third-seeded Franziska also claimed his first Europe Top 16 Cup title. As an added bonus, he also rose four spots to world #14, only one spot shy of his career-best mark. "This was my best performance at the tournament," marveled Franziska. "We played fantastic rallies, but at the end all comes to small points and there I was much better today." The Europe Top 16 Cup saw great individual efforts from Nina Mittelham and Patrick Franziska, to be sure. Furthermore, it is a testament to Germany's strength that they can rest their starters and still dominate the continent.

More at ETTU